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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 120 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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. mate — to breed
  5. current — happening now
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. face — to confront
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. current — of water
  10. current — electric
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. mate — a partner
  14. face — part of the head
  15. shower — to wash
  16. shower — rain
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. mate — a friend
  22. mine — for digging
  23. face — to point toward
  24. rock — music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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