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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. fine — high quality
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bear — the animal
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. bulb — for light
  16. fine — all right
  17. bank — for money
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bank — for money
  20. bear — the animal
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. drill — a practice
  23. drill — army training
  24. drill — the tool

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