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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 would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. charge — a price
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. date — the fruit
  6. bank — for money
  7. staff — a stick
  8. deal — to handle
  9. pass — a permit
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. bank — of a river
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. cap — of ice
  14. staff — employees
  15. bank — for money
  16. cap — a lid
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. charge — in control
  20. charge — electricity
  21. toast — bread
  22. cap — a hat
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. staff — employees

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