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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. pound — a weight
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. fine — all right
  11. bound — certain
  12. stem — to come from
  13. root — of a word
  14. bound — tied together
  15. pass — a permit
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. chair — a leader
  18. root — the cause
  19. root — of a plant
  20. fine — high quality
  21. wake — a trail
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. bound — obliged
  24. pound — for dogs

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