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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: date · kid · pass · rock · stem · press

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. kid — child
  7. kid — to tease
  8. press — a publisher
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. press — to push
  11. stem — to come from
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rock — music
  15. pass — a permit
  16. date — the fruit
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. rock — to move gently

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