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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 120 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: wax · can · root · rush · sharp · temple · court · hide

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. root — of a plant
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. can — to be able to
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. court — of law
  12. root — of a word
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. rush — hurry
  16. wax — to grow
  17. court — of a king
  18. can — a tin
  19. court — for sport
  20. root — the cause
  21. sharp — clever
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. sharp — with an edge
  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