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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.

Make a worksheet

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: leaves · cell · wax · rock · lean · lash · tube · saw

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. saw — the tool
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. lean — thin
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. rock — a stone
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. lean — to bend
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. tube — the underground
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. cell — a phone
  18. tube — a container
  19. rock — music
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. wax — to grow
  24. saw — the tool

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