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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cabinet · row · can · spell · charge · drill · stem · object

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. row — a line
  4. spell — letters
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. object — a thing
  7. spell — magic
  8. row — to paddle
  9. charge — in control
  10. spell — a short time
  11. can — to be able to
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. drill — a practice
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. can — a tin
  16. object — to protest
  17. stem — to come from
  18. drill — the tool
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. charge — a price
  21. object — an aim
  22. charge — electricity
  23. can — a tin
  24. drill — army training

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