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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. tear — to rip
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. foot — a measure
  5. tear — from crying
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. pound — a weight
  13. bank — for money
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. tear — from crying
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bank — of a river
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pass — a permit
  23. bank — for money
  24. toast — bread

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