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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: mark · drill · leaves · branch · content · pass · fine · current

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. pass — a permit
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. content — happy
  5. current — of water
  6. mark — a grade
  7. content — the amount
  8. branch — a division
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. drill — army training
  12. drill — a practice
  13. mark — a trace
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. fine — high quality
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. current — electric
  21. fine — all right
  22. current — happening now
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. pass — to succeed

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