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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. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. fall — to drop
  7. bound — obliged
  8. drill — the tool
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. dip — to sink
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. drill — army training
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. stand — to bear
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. drill — a practice
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. wax — to grow
  20. bound — certain
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bound — tied together
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. fall — to drop

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