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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: rock · row · file · wax · charge · can · rest · lash

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. file — a tool
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. file — a line of people
  6. can — to be able to
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. file — a document
  9. row — to paddle
  10. rock — music
  11. can — a tin
  12. rest — what's left
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. charge — in control
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. rest — what's left
  17. charge — a price
  18. rock — a stone
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. charge — electricity
  21. row — a line
  22. wax — to grow
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. rest — a break

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