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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. bulb — for light
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. hand — in cards
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. hand — help
  9. suit — clothes
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. mate — a friend
  12. mate — a partner
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. mate — to breed
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. bulb — for light
  18. suit — in cards
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. stock — goods
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. stock — shares
  23. suit — to fit
  24. safe — out of danger

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