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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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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: snap · current · season · kid · tube · trunk · chip · pass

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. chip — for betting
  5. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  6. snap — to click
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. tube — the underground
  9. chip — to eat
  10. current — electric
  11. season — in sport
  12. kid — child
  13. tube — a container
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. current — of water
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. current — happening now
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. kid — to tease
  23. season — of the year
  24. chip — in a computer

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