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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: pass · present · lie · rock · deal · hand · saw · current

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. hand — help
  3. rock — a stone
  4. current — electric
  5. deal — to handle
  6. lie — to recline
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. saw — the tool
  9. hand — in cards
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. pass — a permit
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. rock — music
  15. saw — the tool
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. present — there
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. present — a gift
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. present — the time now
  24. current — happening now

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