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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: sharp · can · stem · lash · cabinet · foot · mouse · rash

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. can — to be able to
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. rash — a series
  6. can — a tin
  7. sharp — clever
  8. can — a tin
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. stem — to come from
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. rash — hasty
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. stem — a stem cell

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