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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. rash — a series
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. wax — to grow
  8. bulb — for light
  9. chair — a leader
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. shower — to wash
  18. bulb — for light
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. foot — a measure
  22. rash — hasty
  23. shower — rain
  24. chair — to sit on

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