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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: last · pass · coach · chip · bass · perch · trunk · fan

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. chip — for betting
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. chip — to eat
  6. bass — low music
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. last — final
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. last — finally
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. last — to go on
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. bass — the fish
  24. perch — the fish

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