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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 116 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 broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. rock — music
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. current — of water
  6. plane — a tool
  7. rock — a stone
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. current — happening now
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. key — in music
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. key — for a lock
  21. current — electric
  22. key — the most important part
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. pass — to spend 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