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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.

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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: rock · face · fine · lash · wax · bound · nail · tube

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. face — part of the head
  3. face — to point toward
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. bound — certain
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. face — to confront
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. fine — all right
  10. wax — to grow
  11. bound — obliged
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. rock — a stone
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. fine — high quality
  19. tube — the underground
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. bound — tied together
  23. tube — a container
  24. rock — music

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