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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 120 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 · fan · key · clip · pop · root · saw · season

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — a permit
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. saw — the tool
  6. clip — a video
  7. root — the cause
  8. saw — the tool
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pop — soda
  11. season — of the year
  12. pop — music
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. key — for a lock
  16. root — of a word
  17. key — the most important part
  18. pop — to visit
  19. root — of a plant
  20. key — in music
  21. season — in sport
  22. clip — to cut
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. clip — for paper

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