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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 116 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 · current · mug · saw · club · face · bulb · sharp

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. sharp — clever
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. mug — a cup
  5. mug — to rob
  6. club — for dancing
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. mug — a face
  9. face — part of the head
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. saw — the tool
  12. current — electric
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. current — of water
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. bulb — for light
  17. club — for golf
  18. bulb — for light
  19. club — a group
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. saw — the tool
  22. pass — a permit
  23. current — happening now
  24. face — to point toward

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