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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. current — happening now
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. rock — music
  7. firm — a company
  8. bark — to shout
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. cue — a hint
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. cue — for pool
  13. rash — a series
  14. current — of water
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rash — hasty
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. cue — a signal
  19. rock — a stone
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. firm — decided
  24. firm — steady

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