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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 moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. rash — a series
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. object — to protest
  7. object — an aim
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. rash — hasty
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. object — a thing
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — for light
  23. plane — a tool
  24. mine — for digging

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