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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 116 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: dip · sharp · rash · pass · stem · mate · face · suit

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. mate — to breed
  4. suit — in cards
  5. suit — clothes
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. rash — hasty
  8. mate — a friend
  9. sharp — clever
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. face — part of the head
  12. dip — to sink
  13. face — to point toward
  14. rash — a series
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. pass — a permit
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. suit — to fit
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. mate — a partner
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. face — to confront

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