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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rush — hurry
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. current — of water
  12. lie — to recline
  13. current — happening now
  14. capital — money
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. current — electric
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. stand — to bear
  19. capital — a city
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. jam — a tight spot

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