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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: racket · bound · lash · bulb · firm · temple · bat · charge

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. firm — a company
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. firm — decided
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. charge — a price
  9. charge — electricity
  10. bound — certain
  11. bat — for baseball
  12. bulb — for light
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. charge — in control
  15. bat — the animal
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bound — tied together
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. bat — in an idiom
  24. firm — steady

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