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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: current · stock · bark · lash · rush · coach · face · jam

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. rush — hurry
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. current — electric
  6. face — to point toward
  7. current — happening now
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. stock — shares
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. stock — goods
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. current — of water
  19. face — part of the head
  20. face — to confront
  21. bark — to shout
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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