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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 120 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: present · rock · board · arm · can · tube · stem · rest

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. rock — a stone
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. board — a committee
  5. rest — a break
  6. board — to get on
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. tube — a container
  9. stem — to come from
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. rest — what's left
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. present — there
  14. rest — what's left
  15. present — the time now
  16. rock — music
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. tube — the underground
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. can — a tin
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. can — a tin
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. can — to be able to

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