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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. sharp — clever
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. current — of water
  13. current — happening now
  14. wake — a trail
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. current — electric
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. wave — with your hand

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