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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 · cold · rash · foot · net · pass · pit · stem

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The water is too ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. pit — a hole
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. rash — hasty
  8. cold — the Cold War
  9. net — in sport
  10. stem — to come from
  11. net — after costs
  12. cold — not warm
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. net — for catching
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. pit — in a race
  17. pass — a permit
  18. cold — an illness
  19. foot — a measure
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. jam — in traffic

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