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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: rule · plane · roll · dip · ball · last · stem · stand

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. plane — a tool
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. last — finally
  5. rule — to rule out
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. dip — to sink
  8. stem — to come from
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. last — to go on
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. rule — a law
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. ball — a dance
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. stand — to bear
  18. roll — a cake
  19. last — final
  20. rule — government
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. ball — a great time
  24. stem — a stem cell

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