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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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: lean · track · pop · cell · fan · stand · lash · pass

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. stand — to bear
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. lean — to bend
  5. track — to keep track
  6. track — a path
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. pass — a permit
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. cell — in biology
  17. pop — music
  18. track — a song
  19. pop — soda
  20. pop — to visit
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. lean — thin
  23. cell — a phone
  24. lash — to lash out

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