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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. current — of water
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. current — happening now
  5. branch — a division
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. current — electric
  8. object — to protest
  9. rash — hasty
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. ground — the earth
  12. rash — a series
  13. cue — a hint
  14. object — an aim
  15. cue — a signal
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. ground — a position
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. cue — for pool
  21. ground — crushed
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. snap — to click

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