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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: current · lash · cell · pop · bay · foot · jam · branch

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. current — happening now
  3. cell — in biology
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. pop — to visit
  6. branch — a division
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. foot — a measure
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. current — of water
  17. pop — soda
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. cell — a phone
  21. pop — music
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. current — electric
  24. bay — a horse colour

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