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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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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: season · bulb · current · row · lash · safe · nail · game

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. game — a match
  3. current — of water
  4. row — to paddle
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. game — wild animals
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. current — electric
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. season — in sport
  14. bulb — for light
  15. season — of the year
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. row — a line
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. current — happening now

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