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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: pass · tube · cap · saw · net · current · mate · press

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. saw — the tool
  3. cap — a hat
  4. current — happening now
  5. tube — the underground
  6. cap — of ice
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. pass — a permit
  10. mate — a partner
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. cap — a lid
  13. current — electric
  14. current — of water
  15. press — newspapers
  16. press — to push
  17. saw — the tool
  18. net — for catching
  19. net — in sport
  20. tube — a container
  21. net — after costs
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. press — a publisher
  24. mate — a friend

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