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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: wax · rest · rock · deal · stock · nail · vault · temple

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  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. rock — a stone
  2. stock — goods
  3. rock — music
  4. deal — to handle
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. rest — what's left
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. rest — what's left
  12. rest — a break
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. vault — a safe
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. stock — shares
  19. wax — to grow
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. nail — on a finger
  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