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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: leaves · lash · ball · saw · prune · mouse · current · file

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. file — a line of people
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. file — a document
  5. prune — to trim
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. current — electric
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — of water
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. prune — to trim
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. saw — the tool
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. saw — the tool
  19. file — a tool
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ball — a great time
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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