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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: wax · bear · lash · rush · press · temple · perch · season

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. bear — the animal
  5. press — a publisher
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. wax — to grow
  9. bear — the animal
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. season — of the year
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. press — to push
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. season — in sport
  23. perch — the fish
  24. rush — hurry

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