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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · deal · sharp · current · lash · arm · drill · swing

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. drill — army training
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. current — electric
  8. swing — music
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. swing — to play on
  11. current — happening now
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. drill — a practice
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. current — of water
  17. sharp — clever
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. deal — to handle
  21. drill — the tool
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. swing — in golf
  24. lash — to lash out

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