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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
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: current · pit · pass · mug · file · wax · dip · perch

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. file — a line of people
  3. pit — a hole
  4. file — a document
  5. mug — a face
  6. perch — the fish
  7. pit — in a race
  8. current — electric
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. wax — to grow
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. mug — a cup
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. pass — a permit
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. file — a tool
  19. current — of water
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. mug — to rob
  24. dip — to sink

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