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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 116 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 · rock · lash · rest · charge · present · mate · sharp

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rest — what's left
  5. mate — to breed
  6. rest — a break
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. mate — a partner
  12. present — there
  13. mate — a friend
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. charge — electricity
  16. present — the time now
  17. charge — a price
  18. charge — in control
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. sharp — clever
  22. present — a gift
  23. rock — music
  24. rock — a stone

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