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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 120 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: vault · current · lash · pass · suit · calf · key · season

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. current — of water
  3. suit — in cards
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. season — in sport
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. current — happening now
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. current — electric
  10. season — of the year
  11. key — the most important part
  12. suit — to fit
  13. key — in music
  14. key — for a lock
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. suit — clothes
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. vault — a safe
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. pass — a permit

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