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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  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. rock — music
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. roll — a list
  9. staff — a stick
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. wax — to grow
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. staff — employees
  17. roll — a cake
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. sharp — clever
  22. staff — employees
  23. rock — a stone
  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