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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. drill — a practice
  3. drill — the tool
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. wax — to grow
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. drill — army training
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. squash — the sport
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. wake — a trail
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. stand — to bear
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. squash — to crush
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. wax — for sculpting

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