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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: present · lean · mine · toast · game · pass · bank · leaves

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. present — there
  3. game — a match
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. mine — for digging
  6. bank — of a river
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. pass — a permit
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. present — the time now
  15. bank — for money
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. game — wild animals
  19. lean — thin
  20. toast — bread
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. bank — for money
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. present — a gift

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