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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: net · root · lie · prune · kick · wake · wax · ball

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. root — of a word
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. prune — to trim
  9. ball — a dance
  10. wake — a trail
  11. root — the cause
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. net — for catching
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. lie — to recline
  18. prune — to trim
  19. root — of a plant
  20. kick — in football
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. ball — a great time
  23. net — after costs
  24. wax — to grow

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