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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 spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. fine — all right
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. present — a gift
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. current — electric
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. current — of water
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. present — the time now
  16. present — there
  17. season — of the year
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. season — in sport
  20. lie — to recline
  21. club — for golf
  22. club — for dancing
  23. club — a group
  24. current — happening now

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