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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: drill · rash · pop · lash · bulb · mine · chip · leaves

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. bulb — for light
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. pop — to visit
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. rash — a series
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. drill — army training
  11. bulb — for light
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. pop — soda
  14. drill — a practice
  15. pop — music
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. rash — hasty
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. chip — for betting
  22. mine — for digging
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. chip — to eat

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