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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.

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: cue · rash · mouse · fan · bear · saw · content · stem

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. cue — for pool
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. content — the amount
  5. saw — the tool
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bear — the animal
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. rash — hasty
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. cue — a hint
  16. rash — a series
  17. saw — the tool
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. stem — to come from
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. cue — a signal
  22. content — happy
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. fan — to cool the air

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