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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  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. current — happening now
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. current — of water
  4. bank — for money
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. can — a tin
  7. fine — high quality
  8. can — a tin
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. cell — in biology
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. bank — for money
  15. fine — all right
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. cell — a phone
  19. bank — of a river
  20. can — to be able to
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. current — electric
  23. lash — to lash out
  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