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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: press · wound · sharp · bowl · wax · prune · lash · pitcher

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. prune — to trim
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. press — to push
  13. wax — to grow
  14. sharp — clever
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. wound — an injury
  17. press — newspapers
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. prune — to trim
  20. press — a publisher
  21. wound — an injury
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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