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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.

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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 · content · mouse · can · cap · current · bank · fine

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. current — electric
  3. can — a tin
  4. fine — high quality
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. can — a tin
  7. bank — for money
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. fine — all right
  10. content — the amount
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. current — happening now
  14. bank — of a river
  15. content — happy
  16. bank — for money
  17. cap — of ice
  18. current — of water
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. cap — a hat
  21. cap — a lid
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. can — to be able to
  24. mouse — the animal

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