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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 116 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: board · rock · stem · spell · track · cue · stick · bulb

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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. track — to keep track
  3. rock — a stone
  4. bulb — for light
  5. spell — magic
  6. cue — for pool
  7. bulb — for light
  8. board — a committee
  9. board — to get on
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — music
  12. track — a path
  13. spell — letters
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. track — a song
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. stem — to come from
  18. spell — a short time
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. cue — a hint
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. cue — a signal
  24. stem — a stem cell

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