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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.

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: kid · spell · current · dip · stem · wax · stand · key

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. key — in music
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. stand — to bear
  6. spell — magic
  7. wax — to grow
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. current — of water
  12. stem — to come from
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. spell — a short time
  15. spell — letters
  16. current — electric
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. key — the most important part
  19. dip — to sink
  20. key — for a lock
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. current — happening now
  23. kid — to tease
  24. kid — child

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