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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 116 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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Word bank
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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. bulb — for light
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. pass — a permit
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. perch — the fish
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. spell — magic
  15. can — a tin
  16. spell — letters
  17. bulb — for light
  18. can — a tin
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. spell — a short time
  24. can — to be able to

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