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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: current · bulb · safe · rash · lash · bore · band · can

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  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. safe — a strongbox
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rash — hasty
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. current — of water
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bore — to tire
  10. can — a tin
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. rash — a series
  14. current — electric
  15. band — a ring
  16. current — happening now
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. can — a tin
  22. bore — to drill
  23. band — a music group
  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