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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 120 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: tube · stem · mug · key · leaves · fall · season · temple

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. key — in music
  4. tube — a container
  5. mug — a face
  6. fall — the season
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. stem — to come from
  9. season — of the year
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mug — a cup
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. key — for a lock
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. season — in sport
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. fall — to drop
  23. key — the most important part
  24. fall — to drop

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