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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: wind · lash · mate · stem · lean · saw · pitcher · rock

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. lean — thin
  7. saw — the tool
  8. mate — to breed
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. saw — the tool
  11. rock — music
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. stem — to come from
  15. wind — moving air
  16. wind — moving air
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. rock — a stone
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. lean — to bend
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. mate — a friend
  23. mate — a partner
  24. wind — to turn a key

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