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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 116 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 moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. drill — the tool
  5. rest — what's left
  6. drill — army training
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. season — of the year
  14. season — in sport
  15. net — after costs
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. rest — a break
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. drill — a practice
  20. net — in sport
  21. rest — what's left
  22. net — for catching
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. lash — an eyelash

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