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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 120 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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Word bank
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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: track · safe · stem · mouse · rock · degree · pop · nail

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. track — a song
  5. pop — soda
  6. track — a path
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. degree — temperature
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. pop — music
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. degree — from a university
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stem — to come from
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. track — to keep track
  19. rock — music
  20. degree — an amount
  21. pop — to visit
  22. rock — a stone
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. mouse — the animal

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