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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. chip — to eat
  3. current — happening now
  4. current — of water
  5. suit — clothes
  6. lean — thin
  7. suit — in cards
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. ball — a great time
  11. current — electric
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. court — of law
  17. chip — for betting
  18. court — of a king
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. suit — to fit
  21. ball — a dance
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. court — for sport
  24. lean — to bend

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