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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: current · cue · present · key · sharp · mark · trunk · toast

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. present — a gift
  3. current — happening now
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. cue — a signal
  8. key — in music
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. cue — for pool
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. current — electric
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. key — for a lock
  16. mark — a trace
  17. toast — bread
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. cue — a hint
  20. present — there
  21. present — the time now
  22. mark — a grade
  23. current — of water
  24. key — the most important part

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