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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. current — of water
  3. rock — a stone
  4. file — a document
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. current — electric
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. court — for sport
  11. court — of a king
  12. can — a tin
  13. file — a line of people
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. rock — music
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. can — to be able to
  19. file — a tool
  20. court — of law
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. current — happening now
  24. leaves — lets stay

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