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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. bound — tied together
  5. rock — a stone
  6. bass — the fish
  7. foot — a measure
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. bulb — for light
  10. squash — the sport
  11. bound — certain
  12. squash — to crush
  13. bass — low music
  14. wax — to grow
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. rock — music
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. bulb — for light

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