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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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Word bank
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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: trunk · bore · press · fan · key · current · can · straw

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. current — happening now
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. key — in music
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bore — to drill
  10. press — newspapers
  11. press — to push
  12. press — a publisher
  13. current — electric
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bore — to tire
  21. current — of water
  22. can — to be able to
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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