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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.

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: branch · current · tube · plane · pass · spell · game · wave

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. current — electric
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. tube — the underground
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. branch — a division
  10. plane — a tool
  11. tube — a container
  12. spell — magic
  13. pass — a permit
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. current — happening now
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. current — of water
  20. game — wild animals
  21. game — a match
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. spell — a short time

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