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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: current · mark · bound · leaves · scale · club · pit · lash

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. club — for golf
  3. scale — in music
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. bound — obliged
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. club — for dancing
  8. scale — size or range
  9. mark — a grade
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. bound — tied together
  13. pit — in a race
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. club — a group
  16. current — happening now
  17. bound — certain
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. current — of water
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. mark — a trace
  23. current — electric
  24. pit — a hole

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