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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: lash · leaves · season · pass · nail · toast · wax · wound

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. wound — an injury
  8. pass — a permit
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. wax — to grow
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. toast — bread
  14. season — of the year
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. wound — an injury
  18. season — in sport
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. nail — for a hammer

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