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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: bore · fine · mug · clip · stem · rash · cabinet · pop

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. clip — to cut
  3. bore — to tire
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. pop — soda
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. fine — all right
  8. mug — a face
  9. fine — high quality
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. rash — hasty
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. mug — to rob
  15. stem — to come from
  16. clip — a video
  17. pop — music
  18. rash — a series
  19. clip — for paper
  20. bore — to drill
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. mug — a cup
  24. pop — to visit

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