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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. mate — to breed
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. chip — for betting
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. current — happening now
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. mate — a partner
  9. key — the most important part
  10. current — of water
  11. key — for a lock
  12. mate — a friend
  13. current — electric
  14. season — of the year
  15. key — in music
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. perch — the fish
  18. scale — size or range
  19. season — in sport
  20. pass — a permit
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. chip — to eat
  24. scale — in music

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