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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: rock · hide · saw · roll · pass · drill · craft · stem

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. roll — a list
  3. pass — a permit
  4. stem — to come from
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. craft — boats
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. rock — a stone
  11. drill — army training
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. drill — the tool
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. saw — the tool
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. craft — a skill
  18. drill — a practice
  19. rock — music
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. saw — the tool
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. stem — of a plant

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