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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: ruler · season · trunk · rest · stem · current · deal · pitcher

  1. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. current — of water
  7. rest — what's left
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. current — electric
  10. stem — to come from
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. current — happening now
  15. rest — a break
  16. rest — what's left
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. season — of the year
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. deal — to handle
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. season — in sport

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