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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: current · branch · nail · pass · present · toast · saw · bear

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. present — the time now
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. branch — a division
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. present — a gift
  10. bear — the animal
  11. current — happening now
  12. pass — a permit
  13. bear — the animal
  14. current — electric
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. present — there
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. saw — the tool
  21. current — of water
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. toast — bread

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