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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 116 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 · lash · face · bound · land · pass · sharp · firm

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bound — certain
  3. pass — a permit
  4. land — a country
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. sharp — clever
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. land — to come down
  9. land — ground
  10. bulb — for light
  11. firm — a company
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. bound — obliged
  14. firm — decided
  15. face — to point toward
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. face — part of the head
  18. bound — tied together
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. face — to confront
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. firm — steady
  24. bulb — for light

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