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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 · wax · fan · mark · kick · rash · temple · suit

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. kick — in football
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. suit — clothes
  6. mark — a grade
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. suit — to fit
  16. mark — a trace
  17. suit — in cards
  18. rash — hasty
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. wax — to grow
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. rash — a series
  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