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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: wound · leaves · firm · mug · prune · stem · pass · fork

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. wound — an injury
  3. firm — a company
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. stem — to come from
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. pass — a permit
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. mug — a cup
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. mug — to rob
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. mug — a face
  17. wound — an injury
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. prune — to trim
  21. prune — to trim
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. firm — steady
  24. firm — decided

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