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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 120 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 · pass · hide · board · track · firm · mouse · fan

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. current — of water
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. board — a committee
  5. current — electric
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. board — to get on
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. track — a path
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. track — a song
  13. track — to keep track
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. firm — a company
  17. firm — decided
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. firm — steady
  20. pass — a permit
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. current — happening now

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