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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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 · current · mug · staff · season · bat · rash · track

  1. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. rash — hasty
  3. pass — a permit
  4. current — happening now
  5. track — a song
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. mug — a cup
  9. season — of the year
  10. current — electric
  11. staff — employees
  12. current — of water
  13. bat — the animal
  14. track — to keep track
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. mug — a face
  18. staff — a stick
  19. mug — to rob
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. season — in sport
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. staff — employees
  24. track — a path

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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