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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 · cue · stem · lash · lie · can · spell · toast

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. can — a tin
  3. spell — magic
  4. cue — a hint
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. cue — for pool
  7. foot — a measure
  8. cue — a signal
  9. can — a tin
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. toast — bread
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. can — to be able to
  14. spell — a short time
  15. stem — to come from
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. spell — letters
  19. lie — to recline
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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