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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.

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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: key · clip · current · cabinet · fan · mug · lean · bay

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. lean — to bend
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. clip — a video
  6. key — the most important part
  7. mug — to rob
  8. clip — to cut
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. current — electric
  14. clip — for paper
  15. current — happening now
  16. key — in music
  17. key — for a lock
  18. mug — a cup
  19. lean — thin
  20. current — of water
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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