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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.

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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: lash · face · bear · charge · wax · bound · bay · mate

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. charge — in control
  3. wax — to grow
  4. mate — a friend
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. charge — a price
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. charge — electricity
  14. face — part of the head
  15. bound — tied together
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. face — to confront
  20. mate — a partner
  21. bound — certain
  22. face — to point toward
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bay — a horse colour

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