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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 ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. current — happening now
  4. key — in music
  5. rock — a stone
  6. key — the most important part
  7. current — electric
  8. key — for a lock
  9. rush — hurry
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bear — the animal
  12. current — of water
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. rock — music
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. deal — to handle
  19. net — after costs
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. net — for catching
  24. rush — a thrill

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