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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: pass · cabinet · date · pitcher · chest · plane · fine · leaves

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. chest — a box
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. plane — a tool
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. chest — of your body
  18. pass — a permit
  19. date — the fruit
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. fine — all right
  22. chest — of your body
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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