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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. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. key — in music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. ground — a position
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. ground — the earth
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. key — the most important part
  17. plane — a tool
  18. pass — a permit
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. ground — crushed
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. stem — of a plant

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