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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. current — happening now
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. can — a tin
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. clip — to cut
  10. suit — to fit
  11. clip — for paper
  12. current — electric
  13. clip — a video
  14. mate — to breed
  15. can — a tin
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mate — a friend
  18. current — of water
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. can — to be able to
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. suit — in cards
  24. mouse — for a computer

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