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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: stem · snap · safe · lash · saw · field · ruler · sharp

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. snap — to click
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — the tool
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. field — for sport
  15. field — a subject
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. stem — to come from
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. sharp — clever
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. field — farmland
  24. ruler — for measuring

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