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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: mark · current · foot · squash · lash · rush · spring · bore

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. bore — to tire
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. current — happening now
  6. spring — the season
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. squash — the sport
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. squash — to crush
  13. bore — to drill
  14. mark — a grade
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. mark — a trace
  18. spring — of water
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. spring — a coil
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. current — of water
  23. current — electric
  24. rush — hurry

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