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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: coach · bulb · can · temple · bay · vault · wax · race

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. wax — to grow
  5. bulb — for light
  6. race — humankind
  7. can — a tin
  8. vault — a safe
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. race — the arms race
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. can — a tin
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. can — to be able to
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. race — a contest
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  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