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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: pass · roll · fan · mug · cap · temple · board · stock

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. cap — a lid
  4. mug — a cup
  5. cap — of ice
  6. roll — a cake
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. stock — goods
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. roll — a list
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. mug — a face
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. mug — to rob
  16. board — a committee
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. stock — shares
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. board — to get on
  21. pass — a permit
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. temple — a place of worship

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