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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bowl · present · wax · season · prune · mouse · racket · temple

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. present — there
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. season — of the year
  6. present — a gift
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. season — in sport
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. prune — to trim
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. wax — to grow
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. prune — to trim

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