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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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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: roll · can · lash · kid · bulb · rush · track · safe

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. kid — child
  5. kid — to tease
  6. can — a tin
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. rush — hurry
  12. track — a path
  13. track — to keep track
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bulb — for light
  16. can — to be able to
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. roll — a list
  21. track — a song
  22. roll — a cake
  23. can — a tin
  24. bulb — of a plant

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