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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: mark · stem · deal · cap · mouse · lean · pitch · face

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. stem — to come from
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. deal — to handle
  7. pitch — completely
  8. lean — to bend
  9. face — part of the head
  10. cap — a lid
  11. mark — a trace
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. face — to confront
  15. face — to point toward
  16. cap — of ice
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. cap — a hat
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. lean — thin
  23. mark — a grade
  24. stem — of a plant

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