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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. key — for a lock
  4. current — electric
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. track — to keep track
  7. key — in music
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. key — the most important part
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. current — happening now
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. current — of water
  18. bark — to shout
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. track — a song
  22. track — a path
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. ruler — for measuring

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