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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 116 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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. plane — a tool
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. bass — low music
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. current — happening now
  9. bass — the fish
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. current — of water
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. key — the most important part
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. key — in music
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. key — for a lock
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. fork — in a road
  23. content — happy
  24. content — the amount

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