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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 116 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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. cap — a hat
  3. staff — employees
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. cap — of ice
  10. rush — hurry
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. stem — to come from
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. cap — a lid
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. pass — a permit
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. staff — a stick
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. staff — employees
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — a thrill

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