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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: last · sharp · season · scale · stick · rock · spring · stem

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. last — finally
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. scale — in music
  5. last — to go on
  6. rock — music
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. spring — a coil
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. season — in sport
  14. last — final
  15. scale — size or range
  16. season — of the year
  17. spring — the season
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. stem — to come from
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. spring — of water
  22. rock — a stone
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. sharp — clever

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