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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: pass · toast · leaves · wake · ruler · board · pitcher · shower

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. pass — a permit
  4. board — a committee
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. wake — a trail
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. shower — rain
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. shower — to wash
  22. board — to get on
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. toast — bread

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