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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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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: bank · ruler · calf · lash · face · saw · deal · wax

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. saw — the tool
  4. face — part of the head
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. deal — to handle
  8. face — to point toward
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. bank — of a river
  16. bank — for money
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. face — to confront
  21. wax — to grow
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bank — for money
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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