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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 116 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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. pass — a permit
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. plane — a tool
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. last — to go on
  15. branch — a division
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. last — final
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. last — finally
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. fan — a supporter

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