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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 · coach · saw · date · can · pass · prune · swing

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. current — happening now
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. swing — music
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. pass — a permit
  11. current — of water
  12. saw — the tool
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. swing — in golf
  15. date — the fruit
  16. saw — the tool
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. can — to be able to
  19. prune — to trim
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. prune — to trim
  22. swing — to play on
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. coach — a trainer

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