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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: lash · rush · nail · bear · mouse · wax · craft · court

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. bear — the animal
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. craft — boats
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. rush — hurry
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. bear — the animal
  9. craft — a skill
  10. court — for sport
  11. court — of a king
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. court — of law
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. wax — to grow

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