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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. season — of the year
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. squash — the sport
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. file — a tool
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. file — a document
  14. season — in sport
  15. wax — to grow
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. squash — to crush
  21. file — a line of people
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. hide — to keep secret

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