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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: spell · face · bear · deal · pitch · foot · cabinet · stem

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. pitch — completely
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. deal — to handle
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. foot — a measure
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bear — the animal
  12. stem — to come from
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. spell — magic
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. spell — letters
  18. face — to point toward
  19. face — part of the head
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. spell — a short time
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. face — to confront

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