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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: lash · saw · spell · cabinet · stem · mouse · current · bore

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. saw — the tool
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. current — of water
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. bore — to drill
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. spell — letters
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. current — electric
  16. spell — magic
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. saw — the tool
  21. current — happening now
  22. spell — a short time
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. bore — to tire

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