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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: face · bay · can · wax · squash · wave · lash · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. can — a tin
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. squash — the sport
  7. face — to point toward
  8. can — a tin
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. wax — to grow
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. face — part of the head
  17. can — to be able to
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. face — to confront
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. squash — to crush
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. wax — for sculpting

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