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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: stem · bound · rush · pass · wound · cap · fork · cabinet

  1. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. fork — in a road
  6. wound — an injury
  7. cap — a hat
  8. bound — obliged
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. cap — a lid
  12. cap — of ice
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. bound — certain
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bound — tied together
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. rush — hurry
  21. wound — an injury
  22. stem — to come from
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. rush — to hurry

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