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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.

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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: wax · lash · suit · bank · chip · squash · deal · bark

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. suit — in cards
  3. chip — for betting
  4. suit — to fit
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. squash — to crush
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. bark — to shout
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. bank — for money
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. chip — to eat
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. suit — clothes
  17. bank — for money
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. squash — the sport
  22. wax — to grow
  23. bank — of a river
  24. deal — an agreement

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