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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: fine · mine · trunk · nail · charge · bulb · cue · lash

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. fine — all right
  3. cue — for pool
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. mine — for digging
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. cue — a signal
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bulb — for light
  16. charge — in control
  17. cue — a hint
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. charge — electricity
  22. charge — a price
  23. fine — high quality
  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