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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.

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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 · rash · bear · tube · hand · current · bay · rock

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. rash — a series
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. stem — to come from
  10. bear — the animal
  11. hand — in cards
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. current — electric
  14. hand — help
  15. current — happening now
  16. tube — the underground
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. tube — a container
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. current — of water
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bear — the animal
  23. rock — music
  24. rash — hasty

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