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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 · lash · content · wax · toast · pass · bass · deal

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. toast — bread
  3. bass — low music
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. wax — to grow
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. content — the amount
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. deal — to handle
  13. bulb — for light
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. bulb — for light
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. content — happy
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. pass — a permit
  24. bass — the fish

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