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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: pass · bank · stem · lie · can · rash · spring · mark

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. can — a tin
  3. stem — to come from
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. can — a tin
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. rash — hasty
  9. spring — of water
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. can — to be able to
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. spring — a coil
  14. bank — for money
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bank — for money
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. bank — of a river
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. mark — a grade
  21. lie — to recline
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. rash — a series
  24. lie — an untruth

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