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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 · pass · mate · current · fall · coach · ruler · mouse

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. fall — the season
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. mate — a partner
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. fall — to drop
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. current — of water
  13. season — in sport
  14. pass — a permit
  15. mate — to breed
  16. fall — to drop
  17. season — of the year
  18. current — happening now
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. mate — a friend
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. mouse — the animal

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