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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: calf · wax · craft · bore · stock · rule · spring · lash

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. spring — of water
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. stock — goods
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. craft — boats
  7. bore — to tire
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. spring — the season
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. wax — to grow
  12. spring — a coil
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. rule — government
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. rule — a law
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. stock — shares
  22. bore — to drill
  23. craft — a skill
  24. wax — for sculpting

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