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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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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: mate · board · toast · stem · ground · bank · foot · bowl

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bank — of a river
  4. ground — crushed
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. mate — a friend
  7. ground — the earth
  8. toast — bread
  9. board — a committee
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. mate — a partner
  12. bank — for money
  13. board — to get on
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. stem — to come from
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. bank — for money
  21. ground — a position
  22. foot — a measure
  23. mate — to breed
  24. bowl — to roll

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