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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.

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: calf · bulb · current · club · bass · patient · rest · lash

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. current — electric
  4. current — happening now
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rest — a break
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. rest — what's left
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. club — a group
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. club — for dancing
  14. club — for golf
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bass — low music
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. current — of water
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bass — the fish
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. calf — of the leg

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