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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: can · stem · vault · drill · bear · rush · row · pass

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. row — to paddle
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. can — to be able to
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. drill — the tool
  10. stem — to come from
  11. drill — army training
  12. row — a line
  13. can — a tin
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rush — hurry
  16. can — a tin
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. bear — the animal
  19. vault — a safe
  20. drill — a practice
  21. pass — a permit
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. stem — a stem cell

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