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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: racket · board · current · scale · key · court · mug · plane

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. plane — a tool
  3. scale — in music
  4. key — for a lock
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. board — a committee
  9. mug — to rob
  10. current — electric
  11. court — of a king
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. current — of water
  14. board — to get on
  15. court — for sport
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. court — of law
  18. key — in music
  19. key — the most important part
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. mug — a face
  22. scale — size or range
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. mug — a cup

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