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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: board · current · can · stand · lash · mouse · pitcher · last

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. can — a tin
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. last — final
  8. board — a committee
  9. last — finally
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. can — a tin
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. current — happening now
  14. last — to go on
  15. stand — to bear
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. can — to be able to
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. board — to get on
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. current — electric
  24. lash — to lash out

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