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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.

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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: lash · bass · rush · object · lie · wax · wound · temple

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. object — to protest
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. bass — the fish
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. wax — to grow
  8. wound — an injury
  9. rush — hurry
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. bass — low music
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. wound — an injury
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. lie — to recline
  19. object — an aim
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. temple — a place of worship

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