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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
468
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: leaves · lean · spring · current · lash · ball · file · mate

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. ball — a dance
  4. file — a document
  5. current — electric
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. spring — of water
  10. spring — the season
  11. current — of water
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. lean — thin
  15. lean — to bend
  16. file — a line of people
  17. mate — to breed
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. mate — a friend
  20. current — happening now
  21. spring — a coil
  22. ball — a great time
  23. mate — a partner
  24. file — a tool

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