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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 116 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 · rash · rush · lie · stand · craft · prune · rest

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. wax — to grow
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rash — hasty
  8. craft — boats
  9. rush — hurry
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. rest — what's left
  13. rest — a break
  14. craft — a skill
  15. stand — to bear
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. prune — to trim
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. prune — to trim
  24. lie — to recline

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