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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: fan · branch · fall · object · pass · can · dip · toast

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. fall — to drop
  3. can — a tin
  4. fall — the season
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. dip — to sink
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. fall — to drop
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. pass — a permit
  13. object — to protest
  14. branch — a division
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. toast — bread
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. object — an aim
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. fan — a supporter

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