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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 120 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 · kick · board · coach · lash · mouse · mug · spell

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. board — a committee
  3. mug — to rob
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. wax — to grow
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. board — to get on
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. spell — magic
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. mug — a face
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. spell — a short time
  21. kick — in football
  22. spell — letters
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. kick — a thrill

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