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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. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. current — happening now
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. current — of water
  6. can — to be able to
  7. rash — hasty
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. can — a tin
  10. field — a subject
  11. current — electric
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. club — for golf
  14. mate — a friend
  15. club — for dancing
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mate — to breed
  18. rash — a series
  19. field — farmland
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. club — a group
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. can — a tin

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