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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. bulb — for light
  4. face — to point toward
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. current — electric
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. bulb — for light
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. spell — magic
  11. spell — a short time
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. season — of the year
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. spell — letters
  18. face — to confront
  19. current — happening now
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. face — part of the head
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. current — of water

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