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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. rock — music
  3. rock — a stone
  4. current — of water
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. current — electric
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bore — to drill
  15. rash — hasty
  16. current — happening now
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. rash — a series
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. stand — to bear
  24. bore — gave birth

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