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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. wax — to grow
  3. net — in sport
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bound — obliged
  7. face — to point toward
  8. cue — a hint
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. net — for catching
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. face — part of the head
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. face — to confront
  16. net — after costs
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bound — tied together
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. cue — a signal
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. cue — for pool
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. bound — certain

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