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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. can — a tin
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. wax — to grow
  6. can — to be able to
  7. file — a document
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. bound — tied together
  10. season — in sport
  11. file — a tool
  12. cue — for pool
  13. cue — a hint
  14. file — a line of people
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. season — of the year
  17. fine — all right
  18. can — a tin
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. cue — a signal
  22. fine — high quality
  23. bound — obliged
  24. bound — certain

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