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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: toast · club · cabinet · pass · mate · lie · branch · suit

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mate — a friend
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. suit — in cards
  7. mate — to breed
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. toast — bread
  12. club — for dancing
  13. club — for golf
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mate — a partner
  16. suit — clothes
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. pass — a permit
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. branch — a division
  21. club — a group
  22. suit — to fit
  23. lie — to recline
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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