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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 120 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: mug · stem · ruler · stand · current · mate · racket · row

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. row — to paddle
  3. mug — a cup
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. stand — to bear
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. current — of water
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mug — a face
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. mate — a partner
  13. current — happening now
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. mate — a friend
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. mate — to breed
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. stem — to come from
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. current — electric
  24. row — a line

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