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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: rush · stock · prune · can · pass · stem · patient · key

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. key — in music
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. can — a tin
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. key — the most important part
  11. stock — shares
  12. can — to be able to
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. prune — to trim
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. can — a tin
  17. stock — goods
  18. stem — to come from
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. key — for a lock
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. prune — to trim
  24. pass — a permit

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