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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: prune · pass · bass · coach · chip · toast · fan · trunk

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. chip — to eat
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. pass — a permit
  10. prune — to trim
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. chip — for betting
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. prune — to trim
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. toast — bread
  23. bass — low music
  24. bass — the instrument

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