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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: calf · lash · craft · fine · kid · bulb · spell · bowl

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. spell — a short time
  3. fine — high quality
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. kid — child
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. bulb — for light
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. craft — a skill
  11. kid — to tease
  12. fine — all right
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. spell — magic
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. spell — letters
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bulb — for light
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. craft — boats

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