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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: hand · key · bay · current · bowl · bank · ruler · tube

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. tube — the underground
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. bank — for money
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. hand — help
  14. bank — of a river
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. tube — a container
  17. current — of water
  18. bank — for money
  19. key — for a lock
  20. hand — in cards
  21. current — happening now
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. key — the most important part
  24. current — electric

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