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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: net · arm · rule · current · key · object · suit · lie

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. suit — in cards
  3. suit — to fit
  4. object — an aim
  5. suit — clothes
  6. key — for a lock
  7. lie — to recline
  8. object — to protest
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. object — a thing
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. current — electric
  14. key — in music
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. net — in sport
  17. rule — a law
  18. rule — government
  19. net — for catching
  20. net — after costs
  21. current — of water
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. key — the most important part
  24. lie — an untruth

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