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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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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: bulb · dip · lash · jam · saw · bank · file · toast

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. file — a tool
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bank — for money
  10. bank — of a river
  11. file — a line of people
  12. bank — for money
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. bulb — for light
  16. file — a document
  17. saw — the tool
  18. dip — to sink
  19. saw — the tool
  20. toast — bread
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. lash — to lash out

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