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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: prune · rush · stem · sharp · pass · board · firm · nail

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  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. firm — decided
  2. sharp — clever
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. stem — to come from
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. firm — a company
  11. prune — to trim
  12. rush — hurry
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. firm — steady
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. prune — to trim
  19. board — a committee
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. board — to get on
  23. rush — to hurry
  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