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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: bulb · bowl · wake · lash · toast · temple · straw · leaves

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. wake — a trail
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. toast — bread
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. bulb — for light
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. bowl — a football final

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