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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: cabinet · saw · fan · bowl · pass · lean · rush · rash

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. rash — hasty
  5. lean — thin
  6. rush — hurry
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. rash — a series
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. saw — the tool
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. pass — a permit
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. bowl — to roll

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