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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 · mark · bulb · cue · safe · staff · last · can

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. staff — employees
  3. staff — a stick
  4. last — to go on
  5. mark — a trace
  6. bulb — for light
  7. cue — for pool
  8. can — a tin
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. cue — a hint
  11. last — finally
  12. can — a tin
  13. staff — employees
  14. mark — a grade
  15. last — final
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. bulb — for light
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. can — to be able to
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. safe — a strongbox

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