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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. current — of water
  3. rash — a series
  4. bulb — for light
  5. net — after costs
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. net — in sport
  10. current — electric
  11. charge — electricity
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. charge — a price
  14. rash — hasty
  15. band — a ring
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. charge — in control
  18. bulb — for light
  19. band — a music group
  20. current — happening now
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. net — for catching
  24. lash — to lash out

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