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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.

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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: file · key · scale · bound · bulb · pass · current · snap

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. current — electric
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. current — of water
  5. bound — tied together
  6. scale — size or range
  7. bound — obliged
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. scale — in music
  10. key — for a lock
  11. file — a tool
  12. key — the most important part
  13. file — a line of people
  14. pass — a permit
  15. bulb — for light
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. snap — to click
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bound — certain
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. current — happening now
  22. file — a document
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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