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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. march — the month
  3. key — for a lock
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. wax — to grow
  6. key — in music
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. squash — the sport
  12. squash — to crush
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. season — in sport
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. season — of the year
  17. march — the month
  18. key — the most important part
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. march — music
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. fan — to cool the air

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