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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: spring · lash · deal · safe · toast · cue · branch · bulb

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. bulb — for light
  8. cue — for pool
  9. spring — of water
  10. bulb — for light
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. branch — a division
  16. deal — to handle
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. spring — a coil
  22. spring — the season
  23. cue — a signal
  24. toast — bread

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