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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: lash · bear · row · season · current · rule · rush · mug

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. row — to paddle
  3. rule — a law
  4. season — in sport
  5. rush — hurry
  6. current — electric
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. season — of the year
  10. current — happening now
  11. mug — a cup
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. row — a line
  19. mug — to rob
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. mug — a face
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bear — the animal
  24. rule — government

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