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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. track — a song
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. track — to keep track
  8. rush — hurry
  9. key — for a lock
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. key — in music
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. current — happening now
  15. key — the most important part
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. craft — a skill
  18. current — electric
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. current — of water
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. craft — boats

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