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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: squash · pass · file · cap · fan · lie · mine · season

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. squash — to crush
  3. lie — to recline
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. season — of the year
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pass — a permit
  11. file — a line of people
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. squash — the sport
  14. cap — a lid
  15. season — in sport
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. file — a tool
  18. cap — a hat
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. cap — of ice
  21. mine — for digging
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. mine — belonging to me

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