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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: file · current · can · pass · wake · pitch · rock · ground

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. can — a tin
  8. current — electric
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. rock — a stone
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. pitch — completely
  13. rock — music
  14. pass — a permit
  15. can — to be able to
  16. file — a tool
  17. ground — a position
  18. current — of water
  19. file — a line of people
  20. can — a tin
  21. file — a document
  22. ground — the earth
  23. current — happening now
  24. ground — crushed

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