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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.

Make a worksheet

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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. current — electric
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. date — the fruit
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. current — of water
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. current — happening now
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. wax — to grow
  22. deal — to handle
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. fan — a supporter

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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