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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: fan · press · hide · lash · cell · suit · clip · stem

  1. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. He was locked up in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. stem — to come from
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. suit — to fit
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. press — newspapers
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. clip — to cut
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. press — a publisher
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. clip — a video
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. cell — in biology
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. clip — for paper
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. suit — in cards
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. suit — clothes
  23. press — to push
  24. cell — in a prison

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