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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: leaves · plane · lash · game · current · wax · temple · snap

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. game — a match
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. game — wild animals
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. current — happening now
  8. current — electric
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. plane — a tool
  12. current — of water
  13. snap — to click
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. wax — to grow
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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