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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 120 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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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: trunk · pound · pass · rock · chest · ball · stand · stem

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. pound — a weight
  3. stem — to come from
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. ball — a great time
  7. chest — of your body
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. ball — a dance
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. chest — of your body
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. rock — a stone
  15. chest — a box
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. stand — to bear
  18. pass — a permit
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. rock — music
  24. ball — a round shape

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