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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. bore — to drill
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. roll — a list
  12. shower — to wash
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bark — to shout
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. shower — rain
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. roll — a cake
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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