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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · rest · roll · net · chest · current · rash · perch

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. current — happening now
  3. rest — what's left
  4. net — for catching
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. rest — a break
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. current — electric
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. chest — of your body
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. chest — of your body
  13. roll — a list
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rest — what's left
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. perch — the fish
  18. pass — a permit
  19. rash — hasty
  20. rash — a series
  21. chest — a box
  22. roll — a cake
  23. current — of water
  24. net — after costs

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