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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.

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: snap · current · mug · key · mine · board · season · racket

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. current — of water
  3. current — electric
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. mug — to rob
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. season — in sport
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. board — to get on
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. key — the most important part
  12. mug — a cup
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. mine — for digging
  17. current — happening now
  18. mug — a face
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. snap — to click
  21. season — of the year
  22. board — a committee
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. key — in music

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