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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: roll · current · rash · bear · row · toast · root · pass

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. pass — a permit
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. row — to paddle
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. roll — a cake
  8. bear — the animal
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. current — of water
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. current — electric
  13. root — the cause
  14. roll — a list
  15. toast — bread
  16. root — of a plant
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. root — of a word
  19. rash — hasty
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. rash — a series
  22. bear — the animal
  23. row — a line
  24. current — happening now

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