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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.

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: lash · sharp · pop · lean · march · season · current · cabinet

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. current — electric
  3. lean — to bend
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. pop — to visit
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. march — the month
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — of water
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. sharp — clever
  14. pop — music
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. pop — soda
  17. lean — thin
  18. season — of the year
  19. march — music
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. march — the month
  22. season — in sport
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. sharp — with an edge

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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