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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. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. club — for golf
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. bark — to shout
  8. current — of water
  9. field — for sport
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — electric
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. tube — the underground
  15. foot — a measure
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. club — a group
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. tube — a container
  20. field — farmland
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. club — for dancing
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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