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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 120 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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. current — happening now
  3. fine — high quality
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. field — for sport
  7. current — electric
  8. current — of water
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. field — a subject
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bulb — for light
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. rash — a series
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bulb — for light
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. fine — all right
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. field — farmland
  24. rash — hasty

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