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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.

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: track · wax · hide · stem · ruler · cabinet · squash · pitch

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. track — a path
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. wax — to grow
  10. track — a song
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. pitch — completely
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. squash — the sport
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. squash — to crush
  19. stem — to come from
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. track — to keep track
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. pitch — a sports field

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