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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. current — electric
  4. key — in music
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. current — happening now
  9. rock — music
  10. current — of water
  11. rock — a stone
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. key — the most important part
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. prune — to trim
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. key — for a lock
  23. prune — to trim
  24. vault — a safe

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