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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.

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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: pit · track · snap · mug · calf · leaves · pass · stem

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. pit — in a race
  5. mug — to rob
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. track — a path
  8. stem — to come from
  9. mug — a face
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. track — a song
  16. track — to keep track
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. pit — a hole
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. snap — to click
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. mug — a cup
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pass — to succeed

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