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

Word bank: race · rock · spell · cap · toast · pass · bank · pitcher

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. race — humankind
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. race — the arms race
  5. spell — letters
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. cap — of ice
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. spell — magic
  10. bank — for money
  11. toast — bread
  12. race — a contest
  13. pass — a permit
  14. bank — for money
  15. cap — a lid
  16. spell — a short time
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. rock — a stone
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. cap — a hat
  23. bank — of a river
  24. rock — music

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