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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: stand · key · bound · staff · rock · wind · current · chip

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  10. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  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. chip — to eat
  2. staff — a stick
  3. key — for a lock
  4. stand — to bear
  5. staff — employees
  6. bound — certain
  7. rock — music
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. wind — moving air
  10. wind — to turn a key
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. rock — a stone
  13. bound — tied together
  14. staff — employees
  15. chip — for betting
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. bound — obliged
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. current — electric
  20. current — happening now
  21. key — in music
  22. wind — moving air
  23. key — the most important part
  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