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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: lie · drill · cabinet · wave · nail · spell · wax · season

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. drill — a practice
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. spell — letters
  5. season — in sport
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. drill — army training
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. spell — a short time
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. spell — magic
  13. drill — the tool
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. season — of the year
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. wax — to grow
  22. lie — to recline
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. season — to add flavour

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