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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: bat · suit · current · wax · pass · season · vault · saw

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. pass — a permit
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. suit — in cards
  6. wax — to grow
  7. season — in sport
  8. vault — a safe
  9. current — of water
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. current — happening now
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bat — the animal
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. current — electric
  22. suit — to fit
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. suit — clothes

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