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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.

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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: tube · ruler · leaves · vault · bulb · lash · content · last

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. bulb — for light
  3. last — final
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. last — finally
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. tube — a container
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. last — to go on
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. tube — the underground
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. content — the amount
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. content — happy
  22. vault — a safe
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bulb — for light

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