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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: lash · fine · pit · wind · degree · current · charge · bound

  1. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. charge — in control
  4. current — happening now
  5. degree — from a university
  6. wind — moving air
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. fine — all right
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. charge — electricity
  11. bound — tied together
  12. charge — a price
  13. pit — a hole
  14. bound — obliged
  15. fine — high quality
  16. pit — in a race
  17. degree — an amount
  18. current — electric
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. wind — moving air
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. current — of water
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. bound — certain

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