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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: rule · lash · cue · stem · hand · game · safe · perch

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. game — a match
  6. cue — a signal
  7. perch — the fish
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. hand — help
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. cue — a hint
  17. cue — for pool
  18. rule — a law
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. game — wild animals
  21. hand — in cards
  22. rule — government
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. stem — to come from

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