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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 spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. saw — the tool
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. season — of the year
  9. rock — a stone
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. wax — to grow
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. stock — shares
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. season — in sport
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. rock — music
  21. saw — the tool
  22. stock — goods
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. patient — a sick person

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