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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 120 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
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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: perch · current · mouse · ground · key · cabinet · plane · pass

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. key — in music
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. ground — a position
  7. key — for a lock
  8. current — electric
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. ground — crushed
  13. key — the most important part
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pass — a permit
  16. current — of water
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. plane — a tool
  22. ground — the earth
  23. current — happening now
  24. mouse — for a computer

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