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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.

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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: leaves · bay · object · lash · wax · jam · mate · stand

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. wax — to grow
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. object — to protest
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. mate — a friend
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. mate — to breed
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. object — a thing
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. object — an aim
  23. stand — to bear
  24. bay — a horse colour

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