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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. can — a tin
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. ball — a dance
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. can — a tin
  7. roll — a list
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. drill — a practice
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. roll — a cake
  13. current — electric
  14. ball — a great time
  15. drill — the tool
  16. drill — army training
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. prune — to trim
  20. can — to be able to
  21. current — happening now
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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