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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.

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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: ball · bore · bowl · tube · pass · stem · rock · sharp

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. rock — music
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. tube — a container
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. rock — a stone
  10. bore — to drill
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. bore — to tire
  13. tube — the underground
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. stem — to come from
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. ball — a dance
  22. sharp — clever
  23. ball — a great time
  24. bowl — a football final

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