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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. bank — for money
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. stand — to bear
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. staff — a stick
  7. bank — for money
  8. cap — a hat
  9. bank — of a river
  10. foot — a measure
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. rush — hurry
  13. staff — employees
  14. degree — from a university
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. pass — a permit
  17. staff — employees
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. degree — temperature
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. degree — an amount
  23. cap — a lid
  24. cap — of ice

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