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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. scale — size or range
  3. key — for a lock
  4. key — in music
  5. scale — in music
  6. rush — hurry
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. staff — employees
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. prune — to trim
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. current — of water
  13. staff — a stick
  14. prune — to trim
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. season — in sport
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. key — the most important part
  19. current — electric
  20. staff — employees
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. season — of the year
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. scale — for weighing

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