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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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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: bulb · nail · present · lash · net · saw · tube · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. fine — high quality
  7. bulb — for light
  8. present — a gift
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. present — the time now
  12. tube — a container
  13. fine — all right
  14. net — for catching
  15. saw — the tool
  16. present — there
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. net — in sport
  20. bulb — for light
  21. net — after costs
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. saw — the tool
  24. tube — the underground

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