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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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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: plane · pass · bank · cap · chip · pitcher · rest · jam

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. cap — of ice
  3. rest — what's left
  4. bank — for money
  5. rest — what's left
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. rest — a break
  9. bank — for money
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. cap — a lid
  13. cap — a hat
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. chip — to eat
  20. bank — of a river
  21. plane — a tool
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. chip — for betting
  24. plane — in geometry

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