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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 · mug · key · current · season · tube · can · race

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. race — the arms race
  3. mug — a face
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. current — electric
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. key — for a lock
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. current — of water
  10. season — in sport
  11. tube — a container
  12. season — of the year
  13. key — the most important part
  14. current — happening now
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. race — humankind
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — to be able to
  19. mug — a cup
  20. can — a tin
  21. tube — the underground
  22. key — in music
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. race — a contest

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