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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: file · wax · lash · ruler · hide · perch · pass · rash

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. file — a line of people
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. file — a tool
  12. pass — a permit
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. file — a document
  17. rash — a series
  18. perch — the fish
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. rash — hasty

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