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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. current — of water
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. present — a gift
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bass — low music
  7. bulb — for light
  8. current — electric
  9. current — happening now
  10. present — the time now
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. bass — the fish
  13. key — in music
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. key — the most important part
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. mug — to rob
  19. stand — to bear
  20. mug — a cup
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. present — there
  23. pass — a permit
  24. mug — a face

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