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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: wave · coach · club · key · mate · net · current · cue

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. net — for catching
  3. club — a group
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cue — for pool
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. club — for golf
  8. mate — a friend
  9. net — after costs
  10. current — happening now
  11. key — in music
  12. mate — to breed
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. club — for dancing
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. current — of water
  17. net — in sport
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — for a lock
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. cue — a signal
  23. mate — a partner
  24. wave — of the sea

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