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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. foot — a measure
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. current — happening now
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. field — a subject
  8. current — of water
  9. deal — to handle
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. mate — to breed
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. bulb — for light
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. field — farmland
  17. bulb — for light
  18. field — for sport
  19. current — electric
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. mate — a partner
  23. mate — a friend
  24. temple — a place of worship

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