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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. spring — of water
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. current — of water
  5. key — in music
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. spell — a short time
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. spell — letters
  14. spring — a coil
  15. current — electric
  16. spell — magic
  17. spring — the season
  18. swing — music
  19. key — the most important part
  20. swing — to play on
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. swing — in golf
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. key — for a lock

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