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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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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 · current · staff · sharp · tube · ruler · branch · board

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. tube — the underground
  3. current — happening now
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. board — a committee
  8. board — to get on
  9. staff — employees
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. current — of water
  16. pass — a permit
  17. current — electric
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. tube — a container
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. staff — employees
  22. sharp — clever
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. staff — a stick

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