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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: hide · bay · arm · stem · lean · prune · mark · key

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. lean — to bend
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. key — for a lock
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. key — in music
  10. mark — a trace
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. mark — a grade
  16. lean — thin
  17. prune — to trim
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. stem — to come from
  20. key — the most important part
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. prune — to trim
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. arm — part of the body

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