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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: spell · stem · nail · jam · fine · roll · bat · object

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. spell — magic
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. roll — a cake
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. object — an aim
  8. bat — the animal
  9. spell — letters
  10. spell — a short time
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. fine — all right
  13. stem — to come from
  14. object — to protest
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. object — a thing
  17. roll — a list
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. fine — high quality
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. nail — on a finger

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