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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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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: pass · sharp · current · dip · kick · tube · deal · mug

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. current — happening now
  4. pass — a permit
  5. kick — in football
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. sharp — clever
  10. mug — to rob
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. deal — to handle
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. tube — a container
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. tube — the underground
  20. current — electric
  21. mug — a face
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. dip — to sink
  24. current — of water

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