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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. current — of water
  4. present — the time now
  5. present — a gift
  6. tube — the underground
  7. current — electric
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. present — there
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. current — happening now
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. pass — a permit
  16. season — of the year
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. saw — the tool
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. tube — a container
  22. season — in sport
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. cabinet — ministers

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