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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
468
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: plane · fan · land · bay · cabinet · lash · cap · pass

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. land — ground
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. plane — a tool
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. cap — a hat
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. land — a country
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. land — to come down
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cap — a lid
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. pass — a permit
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. lash — an eyelash

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