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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: trunk · march · arm · fan · pass · rush · bank · mark

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. pass — a permit
  7. bank — for money
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. mark — a grade
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. march — music
  14. march — the month
  15. bank — of a river
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. rush — hurry
  20. bank — for money
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. march — the month
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. mark — a trace

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