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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: pitcher · press · bark · current · game · rock · plane · pass

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. game — a match
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. plane — a tool
  6. pass — a permit
  7. current — happening now
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. game — wild animals
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. bark — to shout
  12. press — a publisher
  13. press — to push
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. rock — a stone
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. current — of water
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. press — newspapers
  22. rock — music
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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