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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
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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 · toast · pass · chip · mark · press · spring · file

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. spring — of water
  3. pass — a permit
  4. spring — the season
  5. press — to push
  6. current — of water
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. file — a document
  9. spring — a coil
  10. press — newspapers
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. current — happening now
  13. mark — a grade
  14. press — a publisher
  15. chip — to eat
  16. file — a line of people
  17. chip — for betting
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. file — a tool
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a trace
  24. toast — bread

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