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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: roll · wax · can · mark · mate · temple · jam · nail

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — a tin
  3. mate — to breed
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. wax — to grow
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. can — to be able to
  11. roll — a list
  12. mate — a partner
  13. mark — a grade
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mark — a trace
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. roll — a cake
  23. mate — a friend
  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