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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: bay · bulb · current · coach · squash · roll · cap · pass

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. bulb — for light
  3. cap — of ice
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. cap — a lid
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. current — electric
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. current — happening now
  16. current — of water
  17. cap — a hat
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. squash — to crush
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. roll — a list
  22. roll — a cake
  23. squash — the sport
  24. roll — on a roll

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