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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. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. tear — from crying
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. can — a tin
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. last — finally
  7. bass — low music
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. tear — from crying
  11. key — in music
  12. present — the time now
  13. current — of water
  14. present — there
  15. can — a tin
  16. bass — the fish
  17. key — for a lock
  18. current — happening now
  19. present — a gift
  20. last — to go on
  21. last — final
  22. tear — to rip
  23. can — to be able to
  24. current — electric

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