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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
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: leaves · can · pound · date · key · mouse · current · swing

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. pound — a weight
  5. swing — to play on
  6. current — happening now
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. current — electric
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. swing — music
  13. key — for a lock
  14. current — of water
  15. can — to be able to
  16. can — a tin
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. date — the fruit
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. key — the most important part
  23. can — a tin
  24. swing — in golf

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