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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: stem · sharp · ruler · hand · can · pass · fan · racket

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. hand — in cards
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. sharp — clever
  13. hand — help
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. can — a tin
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. can — to be able to
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. can — a tin
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. pass — a permit
  24. fan — a supporter

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