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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: pass · trunk · can · stand · season · rash · bank · current

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. can — a tin
  4. season — in sport
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. can — a tin
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. bank — for money
  9. current — happening now
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. rash — hasty
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. current — of water
  14. current — electric
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. rash — a series
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. season — of the year
  19. pass — a permit
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. stand — to bear
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bank — of a river
  24. bank — for money

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