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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: track · stem · lash · court · lie · bat · arm · bore

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. bore — to drill
  7. lie — to recline
  8. court — of a king
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. bat — the animal
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. track — a song
  15. stem — to come from
  16. bat — for baseball
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. bore — to tire
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. track — a path
  21. track — to keep track
  22. court — for sport
  23. court — of law
  24. lie — an untruth

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