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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.

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 · season · charge · pass · pit · spell · lie · can

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. can — a tin
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. spell — a short time
  6. stem — to come from
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. pit — in a race
  9. spell — magic
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. pit — a hole
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. can — a tin
  15. spell — letters
  16. season — in sport
  17. charge — a price
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. lie — to recline
  20. season — of the year
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pass — a permit
  23. charge — electricity
  24. charge — in control

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