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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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: fine · bass · stem · rush · pitcher · rest · staff · bore

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. rest — a break
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. fine — high quality
  7. staff — employees
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. stem — to come from
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rush — hurry
  14. bore — to tire
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. staff — a stick
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. rest — what's left
  19. fine — all right
  20. staff — employees
  21. bass — the fish
  22. bass — low music
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. bore — to drill

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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