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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. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. current — happening now
  4. ground — a position
  5. key — in music
  6. key — for a lock
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. current — of water
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. ground — the earth
  12. wax — to grow
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. key — the most important part
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. mug — a face
  18. date — the fruit
  19. mug — to rob
  20. current — electric
  21. mug — a cup
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. lash — an eyelash

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