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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 116 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: mate · current · spell · pound · pass · bank · leaves · face

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. face — to point toward
  3. spell — letters
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. current — of water
  7. current — electric
  8. spell — magic
  9. pound — a weight
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. bank — for money
  13. mate — to breed
  14. bank — for money
  15. spell — a short time
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. bank — of a river
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. current — happening now
  20. face — part of the head
  21. mate — a partner
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. mate — a friend

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