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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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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: safe · object · lash · bulb · wave · dip · nail · rest

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. dip — to sink
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. object — a thing
  6. bulb — for light
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. rest — what's left
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. rest — a break
  13. object — to protest
  14. bulb — for light
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. object — an aim
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. rest — what's left

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