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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: mouse · mate · row · prune · wax · ball · lash · pass

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. row — to paddle
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. mate — a partner
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. prune — to trim
  11. row — a line
  12. ball — a dance
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. wax — to grow
  18. pass — a permit
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. ball — a great time
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mate — to breed
  23. mate — a friend
  24. prune — to trim

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