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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. bulb — for light
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. snap — to click
  6. fine — high quality
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. bound — certain
  9. squash — the sport
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. bulb — for light
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. fine — all right
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. bound — obliged
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. squash — to crush
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. bulb — of a plant

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