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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: current · hide · pass · bowl · arm · row · rest · plane

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. current — of water
  3. rest — a break
  4. pass — a permit
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. row — a line
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. current — electric
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. rest — what's left
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. current — happening now
  18. plane — a tool
  19. row — to paddle
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. arm — part of the body

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