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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. bulb — for light
  3. fine — high quality
  4. mine — for digging
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. face — to confront
  7. face — part of the head
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. can — a tin
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. face — to point toward
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. can — to be able to
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bulb — for light
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. can — a tin
  22. fine — all right
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. wake — a trail

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