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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 120 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: hand · cap · dip · suit · bank · pass · scale · current

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. scale — in music
  3. current — electric
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. suit — to fit
  8. current — happening now
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. cap — a hat
  11. hand — in cards
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. hand — help
  15. scale — size or range
  16. suit — in cards
  17. pass — a permit
  18. bank — for money
  19. cap — a lid
  20. current — of water
  21. bank — for money
  22. cap — of ice
  23. suit — clothes
  24. dip — to sink

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