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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 · drill · bulb · last · mouse · rush · board · branch

  1. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. bulb — for light
  5. branch — a division
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. bulb — for light
  9. drill — the tool
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. board — to get on
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. drill — a practice
  15. rush — hurry
  16. pass — a permit
  17. drill — army training
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. last — to go on
  20. last — finally
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. board — a committee
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. bulb — of a plant

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