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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. pop — soda
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. press — newspapers
  7. current — happening now
  8. kid — to tease
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. spell — a short time
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pitch — completely
  16. current — of water
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. press — to push
  19. kid — child
  20. spell — letters
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. press — a publisher
  23. spell — magic
  24. pop — music

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