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

Word bank: key · calf · leaves · current · saw · lean · board · pass

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. pass — a permit
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. saw — the tool
  6. key — the most important part
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. key — in music
  9. board — a committee
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. key — for a lock
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. current — of water
  16. board — to get on
  17. current — happening now
  18. lean — thin
  19. saw — the tool
  20. lean — to bend
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. calf — a young animal

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