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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: plane · lie · net · cue · wake · racket · stem · season

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. net — for catching
  3. stem — to come from
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. wake — a trail
  12. plane — a tool
  13. cue — for pool
  14. season — of the year
  15. net — after costs
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. season — in sport
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. cue — a hint
  21. lie — to recline
  22. cue — a signal
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. net — in sport

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