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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: stem · pass · arm · toast · press · nail · bore · track

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  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. pass — to spend time
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. track — a path
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. press — to push
  8. toast — bread
  9. bore — to drill
  10. press — newspapers
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. track — to keep track
  13. stem — to come from
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. pass — a permit
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. press — a publisher
  22. track — a song
  23. bore — to tire
  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