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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 120 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 · mug · vault · squash · bulb · clip · plane · deal

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. vault — a safe
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. clip — a video
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. clip — to cut
  13. squash — the sport
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. plane — a tool
  16. mug — a face
  17. clip — for paper
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. mug — to rob
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. squash — to crush
  23. mug — a cup
  24. deal — to handle

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