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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 · fine · hide · toast · rest · leaves · cap · lash

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. rest — what's left
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. bulb — for light
  5. toast — bread
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. fine — all right
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. fine — high quality
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. rest — what's left
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. cap — a lid
  19. rest — a break
  20. cap — a hat
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. hide — to keep secret

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