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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: dip · pass · file · stand · mate · roll · saw · toast

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. mate — to breed
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. file — a tool
  7. saw — the tool
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. pass — a permit
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. file — a document
  12. saw — the tool
  13. mate — a partner
  14. file — a line of people
  15. stand — to bear
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. roll — a list
  19. toast — bread
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. mate — a friend
  24. roll — a cake

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