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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: stem · nail · bay · toast · wave · bowl · bore · current

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. stem — to come from
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. current — happening now
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. current — of water
  14. bore — to drill
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bore — to tire
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. toast — bread
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. current — electric
  24. bowl — a dish

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com