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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: scale · march · face · jam · date · perch · current · pass

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. date — the fruit
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. face — to point toward
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. march — the month
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. perch — the fish
  9. scale — in music
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. march — the month
  12. march — music
  13. pass — a permit
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — of water
  16. scale — size or range
  17. current — electric
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. face — part of the head
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. face — to confront
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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