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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · ball · straw · nail · temple · wave · charge · mark

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. mark — a grade
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. mark — a trace
  11. stem — to come from
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. ball — a great time
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. charge — in control
  21. charge — a price
  22. charge — electricity
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. ball — a dance

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