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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 120 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: lash · key · fan · sharp · root · wax · snap · pitcher

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. root — of a word
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. root — of a plant
  6. snap — to click
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. wax — to grow
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. root — the cause
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. sharp — clever
  19. key — for a lock
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. key — in music
  23. key — the most important part
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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