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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 120 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: lash · stem · temple · mate · foot · lean · current · wake

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  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. wake — a trail
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. mate — a partner
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. mate — to breed
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. stem — to come from
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. current — electric
  11. lean — to bend
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. mate — a friend
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. current — happening now
  17. foot — a measure
  18. lean — thin
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. current — of water
  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