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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: sharp · stem · lie · bound · foot · bark · lash · bore

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. sharp — clever
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lie — to recline
  9. stem — to come from
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. bore — to tire
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. bound — tied together
  14. bore — to drill
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. bark — to shout
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. foot — a measure
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — certain
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. foot — part of the body

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