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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 116 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: mark · rash · rush · cabinet · wind · racket · wax · face

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  10. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. face — part of the head
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. mark — a grade
  5. rash — hasty
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. wax — to grow
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. wind — moving air
  10. wind — moving air
  11. mark — a trace
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. rash — a series
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. face — to confront

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