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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. pop — soda
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. land — to come down
  6. pop — music
  7. season — in sport
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. current — of water
  10. season — of the year
  11. current — electric
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. pop — to visit
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. land — ground
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. land — a country
  19. lean — to bend
  20. deal — to handle
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. current — happening now
  24. lean — thin

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