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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: date · pass · trunk · mate · spring · craft · staff · cap

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. cap — a hat
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. spring — the season
  6. spring — a coil
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. cap — of ice
  13. spring — of water
  14. mate — to breed
  15. date — the fruit
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. craft — a skill
  18. mate — a friend
  19. staff — employees
  20. mate — a partner
  21. craft — boats
  22. cap — a lid
  23. pass — a permit
  24. staff — employees

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