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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: bowl · lash · squash · pass · current · foot · shower · mark

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. mark — a trace
  4. shower — rain
  5. shower — to wash
  6. current — electric
  7. squash — to crush
  8. foot — a measure
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mark — a grade
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. squash — the sport
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. current — of water
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. pass — a permit
  24. current — happening now

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