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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: plane · stock · lash · mouse · trunk · game · fine · wax

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. game — wild animals
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. stock — shares
  8. fine — all right
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. plane — a tool
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. fine — high quality
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. wax — to grow
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. game — a match
  24. stock — goods

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