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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.

Make a worksheet

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: plane · nail · rest · staff · march · wax · lash · bulb

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. march — the month
  3. march — music
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. wax — to grow
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. staff — a stick
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. rest — a break
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. staff — employees
  15. march — the month
  16. rest — what's left
  17. bulb — for light
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. staff — employees
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. rest — what's left

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