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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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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bulb — for light
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. saw — the tool
  7. lie — to recline
  8. lean — thin
  9. cue — a signal
  10. ball — a great time
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. cue — for pool
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mug — a cup
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. mug — a face
  18. ball — a dance
  19. cue — a hint
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. lean — to bend
  23. mug — to rob
  24. saw — 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