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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. craft — a skill
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. craft — boats
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. bore — to drill
  13. roll — a list
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. roll — a cake
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. current — electric
  18. bore — to tire
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. current — happening now
  21. rush — hurry
  22. current — of water
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. mouse — the animal

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