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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wax · wave · fine · arm · toast · lie

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. wax — to grow
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. lie — to recline
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. toast — bread
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. fine — all right
  15. fine — high quality
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — part of the body

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