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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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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: sharp · lie · roll · stem · saw · season · rush · mug

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. sharp — clever
  5. stem — to come from
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. mug — a cup
  8. mug — a face
  9. saw — the tool
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. roll — a list
  14. mug — to rob
  15. season — of the year
  16. rush — hurry
  17. roll — a cake
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. saw — the tool
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. season — in sport

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