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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 · chip · lash · cabinet · rest · bulb · rash · rock

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. rest — what's left
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rest — what's left
  8. chip — to eat
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. bore — to drill
  11. chip — for betting
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. rock — music
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. bore — to tire
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. rest — a break
  19. bulb — for light
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. rock — a stone
  23. rash — hasty
  24. rash — a series

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