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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.

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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. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. club — a group
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. suit — to fit
  17. wax — to grow
  18. club — for golf
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. club — for dancing
  21. wake — a trail
  22. suit — clothes
  23. suit — in cards
  24. wax — for sculpting

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