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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: pass · can · object · roll · fan · branch · key · current

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. roll — a cake
  3. object — to protest
  4. branch — a division
  5. current — electric
  6. roll — a list
  7. can — a tin
  8. key — the most important part
  9. pass — a permit
  10. key — for a lock
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. object — an aim
  13. can — to be able to
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. current — happening now
  17. object — a thing
  18. current — of water
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. can — a tin
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. pass — to succeed

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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