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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · current · key · lash · pit · mine · squash · bark

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. current — happening now
  3. squash — to crush
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. track — a song
  6. pit — a hole
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. key — for a lock
  10. squash — the sport
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. pit — in a race
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. mine — for digging
  16. bark — to shout
  17. current — electric
  18. key — the most important part
  19. track — a path
  20. current — of water
  21. track — to keep track
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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