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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: charge · bark · lash · cell · stem · scale · fan · mark

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. charge — in control
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. cell — a phone
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. mark — a grade
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. scale — size or range
  13. stem — to come from
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. cell — in biology
  16. scale — in music
  17. charge — a price
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. charge — electricity
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. bark — to shout
  24. mark — a trace

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