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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: stem · mate · coach · cabinet · bay · spring · firm · arm

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. firm — steady
  3. spring — a coil
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. mate — a partner
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. firm — a company
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. spring — of water
  21. mate — to breed
  22. mate — a friend
  23. stem — to come from
  24. firm — decided

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