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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.

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: rock · bank · cap · drill · perch · key · bulb · current

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. key — for a lock
  3. rock — music
  4. key — in music
  5. perch — the fish
  6. cap — a lid
  7. drill — army training
  8. drill — a practice
  9. bulb — for light
  10. cap — of ice
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. key — the most important part
  16. drill — the tool
  17. bank — of a river
  18. current — of water
  19. bank — for money
  20. rock — a stone
  21. current — happening now
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bank — for money
  24. cap — a hat

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