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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: lie · degree · stem · pass · arm · stick · charge · season

  1. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. degree — an amount
  3. season — in sport
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. charge — in control
  6. degree — from a university
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. charge — a price
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. charge — electricity
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. stem — to come from
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. season — of the year
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. pass — a permit
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. lie — to recline

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