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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: press · can · bowl · bark · stem · deal · fine · arm

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. press — newspapers
  4. stem — to come from
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. fine — all right
  7. can — a tin
  8. bark — to shout
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. deal — to handle
  13. fine — high quality
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. press — to push
  16. can — to be able to
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. can — a tin
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. press — a publisher

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