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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 · pit · stick · cue · fine · mug · current · cell

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. fine — all right
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cell — in biology
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. cue — for pool
  10. pit — in a race
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. current — of water
  14. mug — to rob
  15. cue — a signal
  16. pass — a permit
  17. cell — a phone
  18. current — electric
  19. pit — a hole
  20. mug — a face
  21. fine — high quality
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. current — happening now
  24. pass — to spend time

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