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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. can — a tin
  5. scale — size or range
  6. can — to be able to
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. drill — a practice
  10. drill — army training
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. rush — hurry
  16. current — electric
  17. current — of water
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. pass — a permit
  20. can — a tin
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. current — happening now
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. drill — the tool

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