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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 · swing · mark · object · mine · trunk · bound · current

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. mark — a trace
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. bound — obliged
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. object — a thing
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. mark — a grade
  9. swing — in golf
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. mine — for digging
  12. bound — tied together
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. current — of water
  16. object — an aim
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. current — electric
  19. object — to protest
  20. swing — music
  21. swing — to play on
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. bound — certain
  24. current — happening now

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