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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 · bore · toast · pass · mug · charge · prune · nail

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. charge — in control
  4. mug — a face
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. pass — a permit
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. bore — to drill
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. stem — to come from
  13. mug — to rob
  14. toast — bread
  15. charge — a price
  16. bore — to tire
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. mug — a cup
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. prune — to trim
  23. charge — electricity
  24. nail — for a hammer

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