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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: mug · pop · lash · suit · current · chair · rock · leaves

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. suit — clothes
  3. chair — a leader
  4. pop — to visit
  5. rock — a stone
  6. suit — to fit
  7. current — of water
  8. mug — a cup
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. suit — in cards
  11. current — happening now
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. rock — music
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. mug — to rob
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. mug — a face
  18. current — electric
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. pop — music
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. pop — soda
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. rock — to move gently

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