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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · roll · ruler · fan · race · bulb · cue · rush

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. race — a contest
  4. bulb — for light
  5. cue — for pool
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. race — humankind
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. cue — a hint
  12. roll — a list
  13. rush — hurry
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. roll — a cake
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. cue — a signal
  18. bulb — for light
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. race — the arms race
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. roll — on a roll

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