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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. plane — a tool
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. staff — a stick
  6. tube — a container
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. wax — to grow
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. staff — employees
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. tube — the underground
  18. bore — to tire
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. bore — to drill
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. tube — in a tire

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