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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: pass · ground · stem · bay · press · tube · can · date

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. pass — a permit
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. date — the fruit
  8. ground — a position
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. press — to push
  11. ground — crushed
  12. ground — the earth
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. press — a publisher
  15. can — a tin
  16. press — newspapers
  17. can — a tin
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. can — to be able to
  20. tube — a container
  21. stem — to come from
  22. tube — the underground
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. bay — a horse colour

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