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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: track · rush · swing · sharp · lash · spell · present · can

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. track — to keep track
  4. spell — a short time
  5. present — a gift
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. spell — magic
  9. rush — hurry
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. present — there
  12. can — to be able to
  13. can — a tin
  14. spell — letters
  15. sharp — clever
  16. track — a path
  17. swing — to play on
  18. swing — in golf
  19. swing — music
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. can — a tin
  22. track — a song
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. rush — to hurry

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