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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: tube · key · current · foot · lash · squash · pound · press

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. squash — to crush
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. press — a publisher
  7. press — newspapers
  8. pound — a weight
  9. tube — the underground
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. press — to push
  12. key — the most important part
  13. current — happening now
  14. squash — the sport
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. key — in music
  17. tube — a container
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. key — for a lock
  20. current — electric
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. current — of water
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. foot — a measure

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