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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.

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: temple · stem · wake · drill · ball · net · file · foot

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. stem — to come from
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. net — in sport
  10. foot — a measure
  11. net — for catching
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. drill — the tool
  14. ball — a great time
  15. wake — a trail
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. ball — a dance
  18. drill — a practice
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. file — a tool
  21. file — a line of people
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. drill — army training
  24. net — after costs

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