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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bank — for money
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. current — electric
  6. sharp — clever
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. kick — in football
  9. suit — to fit
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. current — happening now
  13. current — of water
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. rush — hurry
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. suit — clothes
  20. suit — in cards
  21. bank — for money
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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