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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lash · drill · wound · chip · content · bulb · ball · saw

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. drill — army training
  3. drill — the tool
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. saw — the tool
  8. chip — for betting
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. chip — to eat
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. content — happy
  15. bulb — for light
  16. drill — a practice
  17. wound — an injury
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. wound — an injury
  20. ball — a dance
  21. ball — a great time
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. content — the amount
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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