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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.

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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: mouse · stem · fine · straw · firm · kid · nail · bear

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. bear — the animal
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. firm — decided
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. fine — all right
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. firm — steady
  13. fine — high quality
  14. kid — to tease
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. firm — a company
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. stem — to come from
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. kid — child

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