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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: hide · racket · leaves · wax · net · fan · rash · mug

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. mug — a face
  4. rash — a series
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. rash — hasty
  9. mug — to rob
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. net — for catching
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. net — after costs
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. wax — to grow
  21. net — in sport
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. mug — a cup
  24. hide — animal skin

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