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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: saw · pass · tube · game · fan · suit · perch · stock

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. suit — in cards
  6. tube — the underground
  7. perch — the fish
  8. saw — the tool
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. pass — a permit
  11. stock — shares
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. suit — clothes
  14. game — a match
  15. game — wild animals
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. saw — the tool
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. stock — goods
  22. suit — to fit
  23. tube — a container
  24. perch — for a bird

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