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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: stem · mark · fine · chip · prune · deal · chair · mug

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. stem — to come from
  4. mug — to rob
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. mark — a grade
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. chip — to eat
  9. fine — all right
  10. prune — to trim
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. chip — for betting
  13. chair — a leader
  14. deal — to handle
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. mark — a trace
  20. mug — a cup
  21. prune — to trim
  22. fine — high quality
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. mug — a face

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