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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.

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: current · lean · rash · shower · fine · ball · bay · staff

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. current — electric
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. shower — to wash
  5. current — happening now
  6. lean — to bend
  7. fine — all right
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. staff — employees
  10. fine — high quality
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. staff — employees
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. current — of water
  16. shower — rain
  17. rash — a series
  18. lean — thin
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. ball — a dance
  23. staff — a stick
  24. rash — hasty

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