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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. firm — a company
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. current — happening now
  7. current — electric
  8. game — wild animals
  9. game — a match
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. current — of water
  14. saw — the tool
  15. saw — the tool
  16. net — for catching
  17. deal — to handle
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. net — after costs
  23. net — in sport
  24. firm — steady

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