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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. current — of water
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. field — for sport
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. current — happening now
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. field — a subject
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. bound — certain
  13. current — electric
  14. pit — a hole
  15. field — farmland
  16. bound — tied together
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. lash — to lash out

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