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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.

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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: dip · wake · current · last · leaves · scale · key · row

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. row — to paddle
  3. key — the most important part
  4. key — for a lock
  5. key — in music
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. last — finally
  11. last — final
  12. current — electric
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — of water
  16. scale — size or range
  17. row — a line
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. scale — in music
  20. wake — a trail
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. last — to go on

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