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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: mate · fall · mark · calf · temple · stem · bay · mug

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. fall — to drop
  3. stem — to come from
  4. mark — a trace
  5. mate — a friend
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mug — to rob
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. mate — to breed
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. mark — a grade
  13. fall — the season
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. mug — a face
  19. mate — a partner
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. stem — of a plant

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