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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: bear · stick · ruler · wave · file · arm · toast · stem

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. file — a tool
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. stem — to come from
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. file — a line of people
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. toast — bread
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. bear — the animal
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. bear — the animal
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. file — a document
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. stem — a stem cell

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