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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: mug · pass · face · drill · jam · toast · board · fan

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. drill — a practice
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. mug — to rob
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. face — to point toward
  11. board — to get on
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. mug — a face
  14. drill — army training
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. pass — a permit
  17. toast — bread
  18. face — to confront
  19. face — part of the head
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. drill — the tool
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. board — a committee

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