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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. pop — soda
  4. wind — to turn a key
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. rest — what's left
  7. key — for a lock
  8. pop — to visit
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. key — in music
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. rest — what's left
  13. key — the most important part
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. wind — moving air
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. rest — a break
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. current — electric
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. wind — moving air
  22. pop — music
  23. current — of water
  24. stand — to bear

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