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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. rock — music
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. current — happening now
  5. suit — in cards
  6. current — electric
  7. bulb — for light
  8. key — for a lock
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. current — of water
  11. band — a music group
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rock — a stone
  14. band — a ring
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. suit — to fit
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. key — in music
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. key — the most important part
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. bulb — of a plant
  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