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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: bark · current · lash · squash · spell · bank · bound · mug

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. current — of water
  4. spell — a short time
  5. squash — to crush
  6. bank — for money
  7. bound — obliged
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. spell — letters
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. mug — a face
  12. mug — a cup
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — electric
  15. bound — certain
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. bank — for money
  18. bark — to shout
  19. bank — of a river
  20. mug — to rob
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. squash — the sport

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