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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. pop — music
  4. suit — clothes
  5. suit — to fit
  6. pop — to visit
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. bark — to shout
  10. lean — to bend
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. pop — soda
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. stem — to come from
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. lean — thin
  22. branch — a division
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. suit — in cards

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