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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: current · lie · pass · last · suit · board · ball · game

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. pass — a permit
  3. ball — a great time
  4. game — wild animals
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. suit — in cards
  7. last — final
  8. ball — a dance
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. current — of water
  12. board — a committee
  13. board — to get on
  14. current — happening now
  15. last — finally
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. current — electric
  18. game — a match
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. suit — to fit
  21. lie — to recline
  22. last — to go on
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. lie — an untruth

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