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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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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: key · current · band · club · coach · foot · net · pass

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. key — for a lock
  3. net — after costs
  4. band — a music group
  5. club — for dancing
  6. net — in sport
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. key — in music
  10. pass — a permit
  11. foot — a measure
  12. club — for golf
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. key — the most important part
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. current — happening now
  19. current — electric
  20. band — a ring
  21. net — for catching
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. club — a group
  24. current — of water

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