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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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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: sharp · toast · cue · pass · board · bank · tube · current

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. bank — of a river
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. current — of water
  5. board — to get on
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. cue — a signal
  9. tube — a container
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. cue — for pool
  12. pass — a permit
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. toast — bread
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. bank — for money
  18. tube — the underground
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. current — happening now
  21. cue — a hint
  22. bank — for money
  23. board — a committee
  24. current — electric

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