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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. lie — to recline
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. spring — a coil
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. current — happening now
  8. bank — of a river
  9. current — of water
  10. spring — of water
  11. bound — obliged
  12. current — electric
  13. bound — tied together
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. bank — for money
  20. spring — the season
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. rock — a stone
  23. bank — for money
  24. bound — certain

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