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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. land — ground
  3. land — to come down
  4. current — of water
  5. branch — a division
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. current — happening now
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. key — the most important part
  12. land — a country
  13. net — after costs
  14. current — electric
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bore — to tire
  17. net — in sport
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. key — for a lock
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. pass — a permit
  23. net — for catching
  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