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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: cell · racket · bulb · bound · pitch · wax · lash · season

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. cell — in biology
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. pitch — completely
  5. bulb — for light
  6. season — of the year
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bulb — for light
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. wax — to grow
  16. season — in sport
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. bound — tied together
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. cell — a phone
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. lash — to lash out

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