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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: object · lean · present · season · bowl · foot · pass · hand

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. object — a thing
  4. hand — help
  5. hand — in cards
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. lean — thin
  10. pass — a permit
  11. object — to protest
  12. present — a gift
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. season — in sport
  16. lean — to bend
  17. season — of the year
  18. object — an aim
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. present — the time now
  23. present — there
  24. foot — a measure

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