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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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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. prune — to trim
  3. rest — a break
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. stem — to come from
  11. pass — a permit
  12. lie — to recline
  13. rest — what's left
  14. prune — to trim
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. rest — what's left
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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