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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. current — of water
  3. key — in music
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. fine — high quality
  7. spell — letters
  8. board — a committee
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. spell — magic
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. key — the most important part
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — electric
  15. bank — for money
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. fine — all right
  18. bank — of a river
  19. key — for a lock
  20. spell — a short time
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. board — to get on
  24. bank — for money

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