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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: current · bank · row · swing · can · rock · lash · staff

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. row — to paddle
  3. current — happening now
  4. can — a tin
  5. rock — a stone
  6. swing — to play on
  7. bank — for money
  8. swing — music
  9. staff — a stick
  10. can — to be able to
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. swing — in golf
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. staff — employees
  18. bank — for money
  19. row — a line
  20. current — of water
  21. staff — employees
  22. current — electric
  23. bank — of a river
  24. rock — music

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