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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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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: date · stem · face · chair · ruler · lash · safe · drill

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. face — part of the head
  6. date — the fruit
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. chair — a leader
  12. drill — army training
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. face — to confront
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. drill — a practice
  20. face — to point toward
  21. drill — the tool
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. lash — an eyelash

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