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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. scale — size or range
  3. current — electric
  4. key — in music
  5. key — the most important part
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. scale — in music
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. roll — a list
  10. bank — of a river
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. key — for a lock
  14. current — happening now
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — for money
  17. roll — a cake
  18. land — a country
  19. land — to come down
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. land — ground
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. current — of water

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