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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 120 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
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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: leaves · key · lash · clip · current · chip · staff · track

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. track — a song
  3. clip — a video
  4. key — in music
  5. clip — for paper
  6. staff — a stick
  7. chip — for betting
  8. current — electric
  9. chip — to eat
  10. staff — employees
  11. key — for a lock
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. staff — employees
  14. track — a path
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. current — happening now
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. track — to keep track
  21. key — the most important part
  22. clip — to cut
  23. current — of water
  24. lash — an eyelash

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