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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. current — electric
  3. current — happening now
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. pass — a permit
  6. root — of a plant
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. object — an aim
  9. mate — a friend
  10. root — the cause
  11. mate — a partner
  12. root — of a word
  13. current — of water
  14. object — to protest
  15. mate — to breed
  16. bat — for baseball
  17. object — a thing
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. bat — the animal
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. board — to get on
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. rush — hurry
  24. board — a committee

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