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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: jam · bank · lie · drill · stem · charge · hand · ruler

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. lie — to recline
  3. hand — help
  4. drill — the tool
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. charge — a price
  9. bank — of a river
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. hand — in cards
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. charge — in control
  16. drill — army training
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. drill — a practice
  19. bank — for money
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. charge — electricity
  22. bank — for money
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  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