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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: cell · bowl · pass · saw · pitcher · toast · foot · club

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. cell — in biology
  8. club — for dancing
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. foot — a measure
  11. cell — a phone
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. club — a group
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. club — for golf
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. saw — the tool
  22. toast — bread
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. bowl — to roll

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