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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: can · cell · spring · rock · nail · wind · charge · lash

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. spring — the season
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. cell — in biology
  6. charge — electricity
  7. rock — a stone
  8. charge — in control
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. cell — a phone
  11. can — a tin
  12. charge — a price
  13. wind — moving air
  14. spring — of water
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. rock — music
  17. spring — a coil
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. wind — moving air
  22. wind — to turn a key
  23. can — a tin
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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