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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 · craft · bank · file · bound · pass · cue · fan

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. bound — certain
  3. bank — for money
  4. file — a document
  5. bound — tied together
  6. stem — to come from
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. craft — a skill
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. pass — a permit
  11. file — a line of people
  12. cue — for pool
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. file — a tool
  18. bank — for money
  19. cue — a signal
  20. craft — boats
  21. bound — obliged
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. cue — a hint

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