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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: fine · current · bowl · branch · pass · swing · toast · drill

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. branch — a division
  5. swing — to play on
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. toast — bread
  8. drill — the tool
  9. fine — all right
  10. drill — a practice
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. swing — music
  15. swing — in golf
  16. drill — army training
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — of water
  19. fine — high quality
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. pass — a permit
  23. current — electric
  24. bowl — to 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