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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.

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: row · mine · rash · key · charge · stem · rock · kid

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. rash — a series
  3. mine — for digging
  4. key — for a lock
  5. rock — a stone
  6. stem — to come from
  7. kid — to tease
  8. row — a line
  9. row — to paddle
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. rash — hasty
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. charge — a price
  17. charge — electricity
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. key — in music
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. rock — music
  22. key — the most important part
  23. kid — child
  24. charge — in control

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