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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: mug · bay · foot · stem · dip · bore · pass · sharp

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. mug — to rob
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. pass — a permit
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. stem — to come from
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. bore — to tire
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. mug — a face
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. dip — to sink
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. foot — a measure
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. sharp — clever
  23. bore — to drill
  24. mug — a cup

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