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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: stem · leaves · spell · tube · patient · march · roll · cabinet

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. roll — a list
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. spell — magic
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. march — the month
  9. stem — to come from
  10. roll — a cake
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. march — the month
  14. tube — a container
  15. spell — a short time
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. march — music
  18. spell — letters
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. tube — the underground

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