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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 124 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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. net — for catching
  3. pitch — completely
  4. current — happening now
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. current — of water
  7. can — a tin
  8. net — after costs
  9. net — in sport
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. can — to be able to
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. rock — music
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. rock — a stone
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. current — electric
  21. date — the fruit
  22. can — a tin
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. rock — to move gently

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