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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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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: rock · fan · present · stem · nail · hand · key · mug

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. present — there
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. mug — a cup
  7. rock — music
  8. hand — in cards
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. mug — to rob
  11. key — the most important part
  12. key — in music
  13. stem — to come from
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. key — for a lock
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. mug — a face
  18. present — a gift
  19. present — the time now
  20. rock — a stone
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. hand — help

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