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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: craft · roll · date · mate · bank · pass · stem · calf

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. stem — to come from
  4. bank — for money
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. mate — a partner
  8. bank — for money
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. mate — a friend
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. mate — to breed
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. bank — of a river
  17. roll — a cake
  18. craft — a skill
  19. craft — boats
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. date — the fruit
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. roll — a list

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