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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: perch · bay · deal · current · bank · spell · stem · lie

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bank — for money
  3. spell — a short time
  4. bank — of a river
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. spell — letters
  7. current — electric
  8. current — of water
  9. stem — to come from
  10. current — happening now
  11. spell — magic
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. perch — the fish
  14. bank — for money
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. deal — to handle
  21. lie — to recline
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. perch — for a bird

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