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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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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. ball — a dance
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. tube — a container
  8. fall — to drop
  9. tube — the underground
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. current — happening now
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. ball — a great time
  17. current — electric
  18. fall — the season
  19. toast — bread
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. current — of water
  22. bulb — for light
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. fall — to drop

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