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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. spell — magic
  3. current — happening now
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. spell — letters
  6. fall — to drop
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. spell — a short time
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. season — of the year
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. chip — to eat
  14. mate — a friend
  15. chip — for betting
  16. mate — to breed
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. current — of water
  19. fall — the season
  20. fall — to drop
  21. current — electric
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. season — in sport
  24. mate — a partner

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