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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bank — for money
  4. current — electric
  5. key — in music
  6. key — for a lock
  7. bear — the animal
  8. current — happening now
  9. bank — for money
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. stem — to come from
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. current — of water
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bank — of a river
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. mark — a trace
  19. tube — a container
  20. mark — a grade
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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