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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: pass · mark · tube · fine · date · current · capital · file

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. mark — a trace
  3. file — a document
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. current — electric
  7. mark — a grade
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. tube — a container
  10. file — a tool
  11. current — of water
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. capital — a big letter
  14. fine — high quality
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. current — happening now
  19. capital — money
  20. tube — the underground
  21. file — a line of people
  22. date — the fruit
  23. capital — a city
  24. mark — to pay attention

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