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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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468
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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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. perch — the fish
  5. rest — what's left
  6. wax — to grow
  7. charge — in control
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. rest — a break
  11. charge — a price
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. branch — a division
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. charge — electricity
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. nail — for a hammer

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