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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: current · field · root · key · perch · tube · fine · nail

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. tube — the underground
  3. root — of a plant
  4. current — of water
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. root — the cause
  7. fine — all right
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. key — in music
  11. field — for sport
  12. fine — high quality
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. root — of a word
  16. key — the most important part
  17. field — farmland
  18. key — for a lock
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. field — a subject
  21. tube — a container
  22. current — electric
  23. current — happening now
  24. nail — for a hammer

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