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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: tube · bulb · dip · lash · safe · bowl · straw · arm

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. dip — to sink
  10. tube — the underground
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bulb — for light
  24. tube — a container

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