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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: deal · current · lash · court · mate · bank · net · sharp

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. bank — for money
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. current — electric
  7. net — after costs
  8. court — of law
  9. net — in sport
  10. current — happening now
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. mate — to breed
  15. current — of water
  16. net — for catching
  17. bank — for money
  18. sharp — clever
  19. bank — of a river
  20. court — of a king
  21. court — for sport
  22. mate — a friend
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. mate — a partner

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