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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: bulb · leaves · chip · lash · toast · bass · wake · arm

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. wake — a trail
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. bass — low music
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. chip — for betting
  11. bass — the fish
  12. chip — to eat
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. bulb — for light
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. toast — bread
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. wake — before a funeral

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