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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: foot · drill · pop · ruler · leaves · key · stem · jam

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. foot — a measure
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. pop — music
  6. key — for a lock
  7. key — the most important part
  8. drill — a practice
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. drill — army training
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. pop — to visit
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. key — in music
  20. drill — the tool
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. pop — soda

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