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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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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: toast · current · roll · stick · shower · pop · pass · staff

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. current — of water
  3. pop — to visit
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. pop — music
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. current — happening now
  8. shower — to wash
  9. shower — rain
  10. staff — employees
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. staff — a stick
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. pass — a permit
  15. roll — a list
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. staff — employees
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. toast — bread
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. roll — a cake
  23. pop — soda
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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