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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: fan · temple · pass · current · rock · present · staff · file

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. file — a document
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. pass — a permit
  7. staff — employees
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. file — a tool
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. present — the time now
  13. rock — a stone
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. file — a line of people
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. current — electric
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. present — a gift
  20. staff — a stick
  21. rock — music
  22. current — happening now
  23. present — there
  24. current — of water

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