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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: rule · pass · stem · game · fine · straw · key · fan

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fine — high quality
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. game — a match
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. rule — a law
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. key — the most important part
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. pass — a permit
  17. key — in music
  18. fine — all right
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. stem — to come from
  21. key — for a lock
  22. rule — government
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. game — wild animals

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