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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. root — of a word
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. mark — a grade
  7. squash — to crush
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. current — happening now
  10. current — electric
  11. current — of water
  12. root — of a plant
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. root — the cause
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. squash — the sport
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. nail — on a finger

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