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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: safe · saw · wax · temple · stand · bore · rash · rest

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. saw — the tool
  3. rest — what's left
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. rash — a series
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. saw — the tool
  8. rest — a break
  9. rest — what's left
  10. rash — hasty
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. bore — to drill
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. bore — to tire
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. wax — to grow

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