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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: season · squash · current · toast · pass · mark · shower · perch

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mark — a trace
  4. shower — rain
  5. current — of water
  6. squash — to crush
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. toast — bread
  10. squash — the sport
  11. season — in sport
  12. perch — the fish
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. pass — a permit
  15. current — electric
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. season — of the year
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. shower — to wash
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. pass — to spend time

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