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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: safe · prune · lash · nail · clip · bulb · key · rush

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. key — the most important part
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. clip — a video
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. prune — to trim
  11. clip — for paper
  12. rush — hurry
  13. bulb — for light
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. prune — to trim
  17. key — for a lock
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. key — in music
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. clip — to cut
  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