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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: board · rock · calf · wax · stick · toast · suit · lash

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. board — a committee
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. rock — a stone
  7. suit — to fit
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. board — to get on
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. toast — bread
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. suit — clothes
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. rock — music
  20. suit — in cards
  21. wax — to grow
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. calf — a young animal

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