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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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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. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. charge — in control
  5. tube — the underground
  6. can — to be able to
  7. tube — a container
  8. cell — in biology
  9. can — a tin
  10. cell — a phone
  11. can — a tin
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. current — happening now
  17. dip — to sink
  18. charge — a price
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. current — of water
  21. current — electric
  22. charge — electricity
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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