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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mark · season · lash · stand · bass · dip · ruler · bulb

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. mark — a grade
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. mark — a trace
  8. season — of the year
  9. bass — low music
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. stand — to bear
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. bulb — for light
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bulb — for light
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. dip — to sink
  24. lash — an eyelash

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