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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: bank · lash · straw · can · season · pass · firm · cap

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. firm — decided
  3. can — a tin
  4. season — in sport
  5. bank — of a river
  6. cap — a hat
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. cap — of ice
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. cap — a lid
  15. bank — for money
  16. pass — a permit
  17. bank — for money
  18. firm — steady
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. season — of the year
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. firm — a company
  23. can — to be able to
  24. can — a tin

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