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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
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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: cabinet · lash · staff · hand · trunk · safe · bulb · squash

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. hand — help
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. squash — to crush
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. hand — in cards
  9. staff — employees
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. staff — a stick
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. bulb — for light
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. staff — employees
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. bulb — for light
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. squash — the sport
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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