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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: lash · row · tube · bound · temple · mug · bulb · wax

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. mug — to rob
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bulb — for light
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. tube — the underground
  9. bound — certain
  10. bulb — for light
  11. wax — to grow
  12. mug — a face
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. row — a line
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bound — tied together
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. tube — a container
  23. mug — a cup
  24. row — a quarrel

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