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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: snap · lash · bulb · charge · squash · pass · cue · game

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. snap — to click
  5. charge — in control
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. pass — a permit
  9. cue — a signal
  10. squash — to crush
  11. charge — electricity
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. cue — a hint
  15. squash — the sport
  16. game — wild animals
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. bulb — for light
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. cue — for pool
  22. bulb — for light
  23. charge — a price
  24. squash — the vegetable

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