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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: season · stem · spell · rock · stick · saw · rest · content

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. content — the amount
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. spell — magic
  6. season — of the year
  7. stem — to come from
  8. rock — music
  9. saw — the tool
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rest — what's left
  13. rest — a break
  14. season — in sport
  15. rest — what's left
  16. spell — letters
  17. saw — the tool
  18. content — happy
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. spell — a short time
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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