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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: lash · stick · wax · plane · leaves · bulb · mark · spell

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. plane — a tool
  4. spell — magic
  5. bulb — for light
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. mark — a trace
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. wax — to grow
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. mark — a grade
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. spell — letters
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. spell — a short time
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. bulb — for light
  24. lash — an eyelash

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