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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. David sat on the ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — to play on
  2. pass — a permit
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. swing — in golf
  6. swing — music
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. wax — to grow
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. pass — to succeed

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