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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. can — a tin
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. board — to get on
  5. track — to keep track
  6. can — a tin
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. track — a song
  9. key — in music
  10. track — a path
  11. fall — to drop
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. current — electric
  14. board — a committee
  15. can — to be able to
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. current — of water
  19. current — happening now
  20. key — the most important part
  21. sharp — clever
  22. fall — to drop
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. fall — the season

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