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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: safe · row · bulb · rule · lash · mark · club · mine

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. rule — government
  4. mark — a trace
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mark — a grade
  7. row — a line
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. row — to paddle
  11. club — for dancing
  12. bulb — for light
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. club — for golf
  17. mine — for digging
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. club — a group
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. safe — out of danger

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