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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: bore · wave · bulb · spell · lash · jam · bound · snap

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. snap — to click
  7. bulb — for light
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bulb — for light
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. bound — obliged
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. bore — to drill
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bound — certain
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. spell — magic
  21. spell — a short time
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. spell — letters
  24. bore — to tire

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