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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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  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. jam — in traffic
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. cue — for pool
  4. net — for catching
  5. cue — a hint
  6. net — after costs
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. current — happening now
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. squash — to crush
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. squash — the sport
  18. net — in sport
  19. current — electric
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. cue — a signal
  22. current — of water
  23. vault — a safe
  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