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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: stem · wax · track · wake · lash · mouse · pass · saw

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. wake — a trail
  7. track — a path
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. track — a song
  12. track — to keep track
  13. wax — to grow
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. pass — a permit
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. saw — the tool
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. saw — the tool
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. stem — to come from

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