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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.

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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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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: can · shower · sharp · pit · stem · bank · lean · pass

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. shower — rain
  4. pit — a hole
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. stem — to come from
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. bank — for money
  10. bank — for money
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. sharp — clever
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. lean — thin
  15. can — a tin
  16. shower — to wash
  17. can — to be able to
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. pass — a permit
  21. pit — in a race
  22. bank — of a river
  23. can — a tin
  24. lean — to bend

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