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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.

Make a worksheet

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: lean · leaves · pitcher · cabinet · current · can · mine · key

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. lean — to bend
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. can — a tin
  6. mine — for digging
  7. lean — thin
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. can — a tin
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. key — the most important part
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. current — of water
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. can — to be able to
  21. current — happening now
  22. current — electric
  23. key — in music
  24. key — for a lock

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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