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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: sharp · rock · branch · lean · toast · current · shower · key

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. rock — a stone
  5. key — in music
  6. shower — to wash
  7. sharp — clever
  8. key — for a lock
  9. current — happening now
  10. branch — a division
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. rock — music
  13. key — the most important part
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. lean — thin
  17. current — of water
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. current — electric
  21. shower — rain
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. toast — bread
  24. rock — to move gently

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