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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: wax · bark · scale · coach · staff · board · toast · lash

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. staff — a stick
  5. board — to get on
  6. staff — employees
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. scale — in music
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. toast — bread
  13. scale — size or range
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. bark — to shout
  16. board — a committee
  17. wax — to grow
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. coach — a trainer

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