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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 · cabinet · drill · mug · foot · trunk · roll · track

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. mug — a cup
  4. track — a path
  5. foot — a measure
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. roll — a cake
  8. mug — to rob
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. roll — a list
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. stem — to come from
  14. drill — the tool
  15. drill — army training
  16. track — to keep track
  17. drill — a practice
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. track — a song
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. mug — a face

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