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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. current — electric
  5. net — for catching
  6. bass — the fish
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. net — after costs
  9. club — for dancing
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. bass — low music
  12. cue — a hint
  13. club — for golf
  14. net — in sport
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. current — of water
  17. snap — to click
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. cue — a signal
  20. club — a group
  21. cue — for pool
  22. toast — bread
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. current — happening now

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