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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 120 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: wind · current · pass · tube · cabinet · mouse · game · can

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. wind — moving air
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. tube — the underground
  6. current — happening now
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. wind — moving air
  13. game — wild animals
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. can — to be able to
  16. game — a match
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. wind — to turn a key
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. tube — a container
  22. current — electric
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. current — of water

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