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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 · bank · bay · sharp · rash · stock · last · current

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. rash — hasty
  4. last — to go on
  5. current — happening now
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. last — final
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. bank — of a river
  10. current — electric
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. stock — goods
  15. sharp — clever
  16. last — finally
  17. current — of water
  18. bank — for money
  19. rash — a series
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. bank — for money
  24. stock — shares

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