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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  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. current — electric
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. season — of the year
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. mark — a grade
  7. wake — a trail
  8. current — of water
  9. season — in sport
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bound — obliged
  13. cap — a hat
  14. pass — a permit
  15. cap — of ice
  16. snap — to click
  17. cap — a lid
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. bound — certain
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. current — happening now
  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