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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: wax · mouse · lean · lash · key · stem · object · mark

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. lean — to bend
  5. key — in music
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. object — a thing
  8. key — for a lock
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. stem — to come from
  11. object — an aim
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. mark — a grade
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. object — to protest
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. lean — thin
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. key — the most important part
  24. mark — a trace

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