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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: present · net · safe · band · lash · bulb · plane · can

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. can — to be able to
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. present — there
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. present — the time now
  10. plane — a tool
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — a tin
  13. present — a gift
  14. net — in sport
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. band — a ring
  20. bulb — for light
  21. band — a music group
  22. net — after costs
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. lash — to lash out

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