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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: bass · date · roll · current · bowl · rush · lash · suit

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. roll — a cake
  3. current — of water
  4. roll — a list
  5. suit — clothes
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. rush — hurry
  8. bass — the fish
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. current — happening now
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. current — electric
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. date — the fruit
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. suit — to fit
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. suit — in cards
  24. bass — low music

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