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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 116 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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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bulb — for light
  3. current — electric
  4. lean — to bend
  5. craft — boats
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. current — of water
  10. rush — hurry
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. craft — a skill
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. lean — thin
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. current — happening now
  21. perch — the fish
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. lean — to rest against

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