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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: pitch · mine · can · perch · lie · pit · wax · lash

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. can — to be able to
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. can — a tin
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. pitch — completely
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. lie — to recline
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. mine — for digging
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. pit — in a race
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. can — a tin
  22. pit — a hole
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. perch — the fish

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