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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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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: squash · wave · lash · stem · craft · pass · vault · bulb

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. squash — the sport
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. craft — boats
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. squash — to crush
  10. bulb — for light
  11. craft — a skill
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. stem — to come from
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. bulb — for light
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. pass — a permit

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