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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 116 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 · firm · cue · sharp · chip · prune · current · season

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. firm — decided
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. sharp — clever
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. firm — a company
  7. chip — to eat
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. cue — a hint
  11. pass — a permit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. cue — a signal
  14. prune — to trim
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. current — electric
  18. cue — for pool
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. season — of the year
  21. firm — steady
  22. current — happening now
  23. season — in sport
  24. chip — for betting

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