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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 120 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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bound · pass · snap · key · pop · current · lie · nail

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. current — of water
  3. key — the most important part
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. bound — obliged
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. bound — tied together
  13. key — for a lock
  14. current — happening now
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. pop — soda
  17. bound — certain
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. snap — to click
  21. lie — to recline
  22. pop — to visit
  23. current — electric
  24. pop — 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