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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: key · current · mug · bank · net · plane · perch · lash

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. mug — a face
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. current — of water
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. perch — the fish
  7. key — for a lock
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. current — happening now
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. net — in sport
  13. mug — a cup
  14. key — the most important part
  15. current — electric
  16. net — after costs
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. bank — for money
  19. bank — for money
  20. net — for catching
  21. key — in music
  22. mug — to rob
  23. plane — a tool
  24. bank — of a river

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