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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: track · pop · mark · plane · wax · temple · saw · safe

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. track — a path
  3. track — a song
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. pop — to visit
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. saw — the tool
  12. pop — music
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. mark — a grade
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — to grow
  17. plane — a tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. track — to keep track
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. mark — a trace
  24. pop — soda

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