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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bank — of a river
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. spell — letters
  6. spell — a short time
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bank — for money
  12. deal — to handle
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. lie — to recline
  15. bank — for money
  16. fork — in a road
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. current — of water
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. current — electric
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. current — happening now

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