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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. squash — to crush
  5. can — to be able to
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. squash — the sport
  8. can — a tin
  9. ball — a dance
  10. current — of water
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. stand — to bear
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. ball — a great time
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. can — a tin
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. current — electric
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. leaves — of a tree

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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