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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. stem — to come from
  5. fork — in a road
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. stand — to bear
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — a permit
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. fine — all right
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. fine — high quality
  24. pass — to succeed

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