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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: dip · rock · mate · perch · pass · lean · root · current

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. current — electric
  3. pass — a permit
  4. root — of a word
  5. mate — a friend
  6. current — of water
  7. root — of a plant
  8. mate — a partner
  9. lean — to bend
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. dip — to sink
  13. lean — thin
  14. root — the cause
  15. current — happening now
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. rock — music
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. rock — a stone
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. perch — the fish

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