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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. spell — magic
  8. lie — to recline
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. board — a committee
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. board — to get on
  22. rush — hurry
  23. wax — to grow
  24. spell — letters

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