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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 116 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: perch · spell · stem · object · lie · board · staff · stand

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. staff — employees
  4. board — a committee
  5. stem — to come from
  6. staff — employees
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. object — to protest
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. board — to get on
  15. lie — to recline
  16. object — an aim
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. spell — a short time
  19. staff — a stick
  20. spell — magic
  21. spell — letters
  22. stand — to bear
  23. perch — the fish
  24. object — a thing

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