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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. wax — to grow
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. bank — for money
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. saw — the tool
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. suit — in cards
  15. prune — to trim
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. suit — clothes
  19. prune — to trim
  20. bank — for money
  21. saw — the tool
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. suit — to fit
  24. coach — a trainer

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