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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. current — electric
  3. current — happening now
  4. key — the most important part
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. bear — the animal
  7. rest — what's left
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. rest — a break
  10. rest — what's left
  11. key — for a lock
  12. current — of water
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. mine — for digging
  15. pop — soda
  16. dip — to sink
  17. bear — the animal
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. pop — to visit
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. pop — music
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. key — in music

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