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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: current · key · cue · roll · bass · bark · rock · pitcher

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rock — a stone
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. current — of water
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. key — in music
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. bass — low music
  10. current — happening now
  11. key — for a lock
  12. cue — a hint
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. rock — music
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. roll — a list
  17. roll — a cake
  18. bass — the fish
  19. current — electric
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. cue — for pool
  22. cue — a signal
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. bark — to shout

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