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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 116 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: stem · board · bulb · pass · rock · staff · wind · wake

  1. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — a permit
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. staff — employees
  6. wake — a trail
  7. staff — employees
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. bulb — for light
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. stem — to come from
  12. board — to get on
  13. rock — music
  14. rock — a stone
  15. board — a committee
  16. staff — a stick
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. wind — moving air
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. bulb — for light
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. wind — moving air

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