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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: wake · last · club · safe · rash · bulb · temple · lash

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. club — for golf
  8. last — finally
  9. last — to go on
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. bulb — for light
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bulb — for light
  14. club — a group
  15. rash — hasty
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. last — final
  21. wake — a trail
  22. rash — a series
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. club — for dancing

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