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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: current · foot · pitcher · can · jam · wound · lash · object

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. foot — a measure
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. wound — an injury
  8. object — to protest
  9. current — of water
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. current — happening now
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. object — an aim
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. can — a tin
  20. wound — an injury
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. current — electric
  24. foot — part of the body

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