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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: prune · row · safe · cabinet · pass · scale · stem · nail

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. row — to paddle
  3. stem — to come from
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. prune — to trim
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. row — a line
  17. scale — size or range
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. pass — a permit
  23. prune — to trim
  24. safe — a strongbox

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