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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. suit — to fit
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. suit — in cards
  11. prune — to trim
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. staff — employees
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. staff — a stick
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. wax — to grow
  22. prune — to trim
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. staff — employees

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