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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: pass · staff · shower · pitcher · ruler · rock · toast · spell

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. staff — employees
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pass — a permit
  5. shower — rain
  6. toast — bread
  7. staff — employees
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. staff — a stick
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. spell — letters
  14. spell — a short time
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. shower — to wash
  18. rock — music
  19. rock — a stone
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. spell — magic
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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