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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. current — of water
  6. mug — to rob
  7. current — electric
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. last — finally
  10. staff — employees
  11. key — in music
  12. key — the most important part
  13. mug — a face
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. staff — a stick
  16. staff — employees
  17. wake — a trail
  18. rash — hasty
  19. last — final
  20. last — to go on
  21. rash — a series
  22. current — happening now
  23. mug — a cup
  24. racket — for tennis

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