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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: mark · pass · cabinet · plane · rush · snap · stand · toast

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. snap — to click
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. toast — bread
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. mark — a trace
  9. stand — to bear
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. rush — hurry
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. mark — a grade
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. plane — a tool
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. pass — a permit
  24. mark — to pay attention

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