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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'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. plane — a tool
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bank — for money
  7. toast — bread
  8. date — the fruit
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. mug — a face
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mug — a cup
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. bank — of a river
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. cabinet — ministers

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