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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 116 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: staff · bay · can · snap · rush · bulb · scale · lash

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. staff — employees
  3. rush — hurry
  4. staff — a stick
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. snap — to click
  8. can — a tin
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. scale — size or range
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. can — a tin
  17. scale — in music
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. can — to be able to
  23. staff — employees
  24. bulb — for light

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