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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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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: bank · kid · lie · wound · charge · fan · lash · wax

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. bank — of a river
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. wax — to grow
  7. wound — an injury
  8. charge — in control
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. bank — for money
  15. kid — child
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bank — for money
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. charge — a price
  21. wound — an injury
  22. lie — to recline
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. kid — to tease

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