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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · date · ball · rash · stem · pass · cabinet · saw

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. ball — a dance
  3. saw — the tool
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. date — the fruit
  12. pit — a hole
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. rash — hasty
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. stem — to come from
  19. pit — in a race
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. pass — a permit
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. saw — the tool
  24. ball — a great time

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