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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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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: face · can · temple · lash · net · patient · bass · bulb

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. net — for catching
  3. bulb — for light
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. net — in sport
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. bulb — for light
  9. face — part of the head
  10. face — to confront
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. net — after costs
  16. can — a tin
  17. bass — the fish
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. face — to point toward
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. bass — low music

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