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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. key — for a lock
  3. root — of a word
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. current — of water
  6. root — the cause
  7. current — electric
  8. saw — the tool
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. perch — the fish
  12. pound — a weight
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. key — the most important part
  15. charge — in control
  16. root — of a plant
  17. key — in music
  18. charge — a price
  19. saw — the tool
  20. charge — electricity
  21. pound — for dogs
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. nail — for a hammer

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