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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. wake — a trail
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. current — electric
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. current — of water
  10. stock — goods
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bank — for money
  15. stock — shares
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. bank — of a river
  18. current — happening now
  19. cap — a hat
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. bank — for money
  24. cap — of ice

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