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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  8. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. perch — the fish
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. key — the most important part
  5. object — an aim
  6. key — for a lock
  7. race — the arms race
  8. race — a contest
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. race — humankind
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. key — in music
  15. current — happening now
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. foot — a measure
  18. current — electric
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. object — a thing
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. rush — hurry
  23. object — to protest
  24. rush — to hurry

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