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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. key — in music
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. current — electric
  7. scale — in music
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. pop — to visit
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. pop — music
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. key — the most important part
  15. current — happening now
  16. fine — high quality
  17. rush — hurry
  18. plane — a tool
  19. fine — all right
  20. scale — size or range
  21. pop — soda
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. key — for a lock
  24. rush — to hurry

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