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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: lash · wave · board · foot · bulb · rock · safe · spring

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. board — a committee
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. spring — a coil
  5. board — to get on
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bulb — for light
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rock — music
  16. spring — the season
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. foot — a measure
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. rock — a stone
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. spring — of water

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