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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: toast · rush · nail · wax · can · saw · coach · temple

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. saw — the tool
  5. can — to be able to
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. toast — bread
  9. saw — the tool
  10. can — a tin
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. wax — to grow
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. rush — hurry
  24. nail — for a hammer

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