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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: roll · rock · current · trunk · pass · ball · lie · perch

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. pass — a permit
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — a stone
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. perch — the fish
  11. current — electric
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. lie — to recline
  17. ball — a dance
  18. roll — a cake
  19. ball — a great time
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. roll — a list
  22. current — of water
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. current — happening now

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