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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: arm · leaves · cue · bat · key · chip · current · board

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. key — for a lock
  3. current — happening now
  4. board — a committee
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. current — of water
  7. key — the most important part
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. board — to get on
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bat — for baseball
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. cue — a signal
  14. cue — a hint
  15. key — in music
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. cue — for pool
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. chip — for betting
  21. bat — in an idiom
  22. current — electric
  23. chip — to eat
  24. bat — the animal

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