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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: current · game · present · degree · jam · cue · pass · mug

  1. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. current — happening now
  4. current — of water
  5. mug — a cup
  6. cue — a hint
  7. present — the time now
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. mug — a face
  11. degree — an amount
  12. cue — a signal
  13. current — electric
  14. game — a match
  15. present — a gift
  16. pass — a permit
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. degree — from a university
  20. mug — to rob
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. present — there
  23. game — wild animals
  24. cue — for pool

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