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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. current — of water
  3. wax — to grow
  4. current — electric
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. branch — a division
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. current — happening now
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. foot — a measure

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