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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 120 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: nail · rush · rock · lash · pit · wax · degree · face

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. pit — in a race
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. pit — a hole
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. face — to point toward
  8. degree — an amount
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. face — part of the head
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. rock — a stone
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. degree — from a university
  16. wax — to grow
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. degree — temperature
  20. rock — music
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. face — to confront

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