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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 120 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: suit · lash · deal · fork · leaves · mug · current · racket

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. mug — to rob
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. fork — in a road
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. current — happening now
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. mug — a cup
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. suit — to fit
  13. current — of water
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. deal — to handle
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. suit — in cards
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. suit — clothes
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. mug — a face
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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