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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 120 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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. wake — a trail
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. season — in sport
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. wax — to grow
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. shower — to wash
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. shower — rain
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. season — of the year
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. wax — in the ear

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