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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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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: cue · stem · tube · lie · chip · bay · pass · toast

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. chip — for betting
  5. lie — to recline
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. chip — to eat
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. tube — the underground
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. toast — bread
  15. tube — a container
  16. cue — a hint
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. stem — to come from
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. cue — a signal
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. pass — a permit
  24. cue — for pool

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