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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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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: foot · current · sharp · bore · stem · nail · staff · pass

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. bore — to drill
  4. current — happening now
  5. bore — to tire
  6. sharp — clever
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. staff — employees
  9. current — of water
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. foot — a measure
  15. staff — a stick
  16. staff — employees
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. current — electric
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. pass — a permit

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