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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 120 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
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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: kid · rash · lash · plane · can · wax · racket · bulb

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. wax — to grow
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. can — to be able to
  5. can — a tin
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. plane — a tool
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. can — a tin
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. rash — hasty
  13. rash — a series
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. bulb — for light
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. bulb — for light
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. kid — child
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. kid — to tease

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