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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. key — the most important part
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. current — electric
  5. current — happening now
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. branch — a division
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. key — for a lock
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. press — to push
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. press — newspapers
  16. mark — a trace
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. key — in music
  19. root — of a plant
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. current — of water
  22. root — of a word
  23. root — the cause
  24. press — a publisher

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