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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 120 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: mate · plane · patient · wake · pit · pass · cabinet · last

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. plane — a tool
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. wake — a trail
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. mate — to breed
  8. last — finally
  9. pass — a permit
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. pit — a hole
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. mate — a friend
  17. pit — in a race
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. last — to go on
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. mate — a partner
  24. last — final

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