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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: pitcher · chip · stem · leaves · deal · cell · current · bass

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. bass — low music
  4. current — happening now
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. deal — to handle
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. bass — the fish
  10. current — of water
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. chip — for betting
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. cell — a phone
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. chip — to eat
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. cell — in biology
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. current — electric

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