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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 116 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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. ball — a dance
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. fall — to drop
  7. ball — a great time
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. mate — a partner
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. mate — a friend
  15. fall — the season
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. current — electric
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rush — hurry
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. mate — to breed
  22. fall — to drop
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. current — of water

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