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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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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: foot · season · fan · bank · cabinet · pitcher · pass · object

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. object — to protest
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. bank — of a river
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. bank — for money
  13. object — a thing
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pass — a permit
  17. bank — for money
  18. foot — a measure
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. season — of the year
  23. season — in sport
  24. fan — to cool the air

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