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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 120 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: wound · cabinet · bore · firm · fine · stem · fan · spell

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. spell — a short time
  3. bore — to drill
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. wound — an injury
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. firm — steady
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. stem — to come from
  12. firm — decided
  13. wound — an injury
  14. bore — to tire
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. spell — magic
  19. firm — a company
  20. fine — all right
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fine — high quality
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. spell — letters

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