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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: mug · hand · root · stem · lie · object · net · staff

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. hand — help
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. staff — a stick
  7. net — for catching
  8. root — of a word
  9. net — after costs
  10. object — a thing
  11. mug — to rob
  12. root — of a plant
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. object — an aim
  16. mug — a face
  17. stem — to come from
  18. staff — employees
  19. lie — to recline
  20. object — to protest
  21. hand — in cards
  22. mug — a cup
  23. root — the cause
  24. staff — employees

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