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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 120 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 took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. current — electric
  3. current — of water
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. rash — a series
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. key — in music
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. rash — hasty
  15. net — for catching
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. key — for a lock
  18. current — happening now
  19. net — in sport
  20. key — the most important part
  21. net — after costs
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. cabinet — ministers

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