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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: mug · cabinet · pass · game · leaves · stem · fan · last

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. mug — a cup
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. last — finally
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. mug — to rob
  13. game — wild animals
  14. pass — a permit
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. mug — a face
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. stem — to come from
  19. game — a match
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. last — final
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. last — to go on

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