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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: prune · press · jam · lash · toast · rash · bound · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. current — of water
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. press — newspapers
  5. current — electric
  6. press — a publisher
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. toast — bread
  9. bound — tied together
  10. prune — to trim
  11. press — to push
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. rash — hasty
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. rash — a series
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. bound — obliged
  23. prune — to trim
  24. bound — certain

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