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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: lash · tube · bulb · present · object · mine · safe · kick

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. mine — for digging
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. object — a thing
  9. object — to protest
  10. tube — the underground
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. kick — in football
  13. tube — a container
  14. present — a gift
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. bulb — for light
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. bulb — for light
  22. present — the time now
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. present — there

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