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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · toast · current · staff · ground · jam · bowl · file

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. current — electric
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. staff — employees
  7. file — a tool
  8. ground — a position
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. current — happening now
  11. file — a document
  12. staff — employees
  13. current — of water
  14. toast — bread
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. file — a line of people
  17. pass — a permit
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. ground — crushed
  21. ground — the earth
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. staff — a stick
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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