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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.

Make a worksheet

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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. key — for a lock
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. row — a line
  6. march — the month
  7. key — in music
  8. current — electric
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. spell — magic
  13. march — music
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. current — happening now
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. spell — letters
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. key — the most important part
  20. spell — a short time
  21. vault — a safe
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. current — of water
  24. march — the month

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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