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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 116 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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. tube — a container
  4. suit — clothes
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. current — of water
  7. current — happening now
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. lean — thin
  10. season — in sport
  11. season — of the year
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. current — electric
  14. tube — the underground
  15. suit — in cards
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. suit — to fit
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. lean — to bend
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. pass — a permit
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. lean — to rest against

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