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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: deal · lash · object · swing · spring · bore · current · net

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. spring — the season
  3. net — in sport
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. current — happening now
  7. spring — a coil
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. swing — music
  11. swing — in golf
  12. object — a thing
  13. object — an aim
  14. current — of water
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. net — after costs
  17. spring — of water
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. bore — to drill
  20. bore — to tire
  21. object — to protest
  22. current — electric
  23. deal — to handle
  24. swing — to play on

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