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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: current · last · mark · squash · toast · pass · rule · face

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. face — part of the head
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. current — electric
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. face — to confront
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. face — to point toward
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. current — of water
  12. last — to go on
  13. current — happening now
  14. squash — the sport
  15. pass — a permit
  16. rule — government
  17. mark — a grade
  18. last — final
  19. mark — a trace
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. toast — bread
  22. rule — a law
  23. last — finally
  24. squash — to crush

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