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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: ground · cabinet · stem · spell · pass · pitcher · craft · bass

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. ground — crushed
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. spell — magic
  7. spell — a short time
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. ground — the earth
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. bass — the fish
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. ground — a position
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. pass — a permit
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. craft — a skill
  21. spell — letters
  22. bass — low music
  23. stem — to come from
  24. craft — boats

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