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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: rest · wax · charge · vault · season · rock · mouse · squash

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. wax — to grow
  3. rest — what's left
  4. charge — in control
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. season — of the year
  7. rest — a break
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. squash — the sport
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. season — in sport
  13. rock — a stone
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. rest — what's left
  16. squash — to crush
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. charge — a price
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. vault — a safe

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