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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.

Make a worksheet

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
YesNo
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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 · fan · racket · prune · safe · charge · lash · craft

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. charge — electricity
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. craft — boats
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. prune — to trim
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. charge — a price
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. craft — a skill
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. charge — in control
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wax — in the ear

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