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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: rule · jam · wax · mug · racket · cap · toast · lash

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  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. racket — for tennis
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. mug — a face
  5. cap — a lid
  6. cap — of ice
  7. wax — to grow
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. mug — a cup
  13. rule — to rule out
  14. mug — to rob
  15. rule — government
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. rule — a law
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. cap — a hat
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. toast — bread
  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