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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: band · hide · lash · ruler · bass · racket · arm · wax

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. band — a ring
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bass — low music
  14. wax — to grow
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. band — a music group
  24. arm — a part of something

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