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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
468
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: stick · face · racket · arm · lash · bulb · rush · capital

  1. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — a big letter
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. rush — hurry
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. bulb — for light
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. face — to point toward
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. face — part of the head
  17. face — to confront
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. capital — a city
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. capital — money
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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