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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: key · mark · suit · saw · lash · current · bore · cap

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. cap — a lid
  3. current — of water
  4. key — for a lock
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. current — electric
  7. suit — to fit
  8. key — the most important part
  9. bore — to drill
  10. saw — the tool
  11. suit — in cards
  12. key — in music
  13. mark — a trace
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. cap — of ice
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. suit — clothes
  19. bore — to tire
  20. cap — a hat
  21. current — happening now
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. mark — a grade

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