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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · squash · track · perch · key · leaves · wax · scale

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. scale — size or range
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. track — to keep track
  8. perch — the fish
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. track — a song
  12. squash — the sport
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. wax — to grow
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. key — the most important part
  18. key — in music
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. track — a path
  21. scale — in music
  22. key — for a lock
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. squash — to crush

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