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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: rush · mark · stick · foot · jam · leaves · deal · stem

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. mark — a grade
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. rush — hurry
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. foot — a measure
  15. mark — a trace
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. deal — to handle
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. stem — to come from
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. mark — to pay attention

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