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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: fine · stem · toast · safe · chest · mark · charge · wax

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  22. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. fine — all right
  5. mark — a trace
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. fine — high quality
  8. toast — bread
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. charge — in control
  11. chest — of your body
  12. mark — a grade
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wax — to grow
  18. charge — electricity
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. chest — of your body
  22. chest — a box
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. charge — a price

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