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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: cell · ball · can · ruler · roll · stem · season · fine

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. roll — a cake
  4. can — a tin
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. fine — high quality
  8. ball — a dance
  9. fine — all right
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. season — in sport
  12. stem — to come from
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. can — to be able to
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. roll — a list
  20. ball — a great time
  21. can — a tin
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. cell — a phone
  24. season — of the year

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