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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: jam · dip · nail · cabinet · trunk · stem · pass · mine

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. mine — for digging
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. stem — to come from
  17. pass — a permit
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. nail — for a hammer

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