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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: lash · season · deal · current · pitcher · scale · nail · stand

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. deal — to handle
  3. current — electric
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. current — of water
  10. scale — size or range
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. stand — to bear
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. scale — in music
  17. season — of the year
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. current — happening now
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. season — in 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