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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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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: hide · lash · bore · face · rush · pound · current · mark

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. current — of water
  3. pound — a weight
  4. current — happening now
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. face — to point toward
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. current — electric
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. bore — to tire
  17. face — part of the head
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bore — to drill
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. face — to confront
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. mark — a trace

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