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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. date — the fruit
  3. current — of water
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. current — happening now
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. row — to paddle
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. row — a line
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. current — electric
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. board — a committee
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. board — to get on
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. sharp — clever
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. row — a quarrel

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