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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: bulb · mouse · object · lash · hide · jam · snap · rash

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. object — to protest
  6. rash — a series
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. bulb — for light
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. object — a thing
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. object — an aim
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. rash — hasty
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bulb — for light

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