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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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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: arm · dip · stem · drill · board · cell · suit · press

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. stem — to come from
  5. suit — clothes
  6. drill — army training
  7. suit — in cards
  8. press — to push
  9. drill — a practice
  10. drill — the tool
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. board — a committee
  15. board — to get on
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. dip — to sink
  18. cell — a phone
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. cell — in biology
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. suit — to fit
  24. press — a publisher

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