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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: spell · stem · lie · rest · can · bank · cabinet · rush

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. rest — what's left
  3. stem — to come from
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. can — a tin
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bank — for money
  9. spell — letters
  10. rush — hurry
  11. lie — to recline
  12. rest — a break
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. can — to be able to
  16. can — a tin
  17. bank — for money
  18. bank — of a river
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. spell — a short time
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. rush — a thrill

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