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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: pass · vault · firm · pit · nail · rock · roll · current

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. firm — a company
  3. current — electric
  4. firm — steady
  5. firm — decided
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. roll — a list
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — music
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. pit — in a race
  16. vault — a safe
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — of water
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. pit — a hole
  24. roll — a cake

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