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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: cue · temple · wax · staff · safe · land · calf · sharp

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. sharp — clever
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. staff — employees
  6. cue — a signal
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. cue — for pool
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. land — a country
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. staff — employees
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. wax — to grow
  17. land — ground
  18. cue — a hint
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. land — to come down
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. staff — a stick

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