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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: bowl · press · sharp · bay · lash · fan · bass · wax

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. sharp — clever
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. press — a publisher
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bass — low music
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. wax — to grow
  19. press — to push
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. bass — the fish
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. bowl — a football final

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