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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 felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. current — of water
  3. current — happening now
  4. swing — music
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rock — music
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. rock — a stone
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. swing — to play on
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. current — electric
  15. rash — a series
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. rash — hasty
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. swing — in golf

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