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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: ball · present · coach · current · staff · dip · pass · snap

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. ball — a dance
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. snap — to click
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. current — electric
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. current — of water
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. present — the time now
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. pass — a permit
  16. staff — employees
  17. current — happening now
  18. ball — a great time
  19. present — there
  20. staff — employees
  21. dip — to sink
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. present — a gift
  24. staff — a stick

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