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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: root · file · wax · lash · mug · hide · fine · club

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. root — the cause
  5. wax — to grow
  6. club — for golf
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. mug — a face
  9. root — of a word
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. file — a line of people
  13. club — for dancing
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. mug — a cup
  17. mug — to rob
  18. fine — all right
  19. file — a document
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. fine — high quality
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. file — a tool
  24. root — of a plant

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