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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.

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: temple · toast · mug · bass · lie · content · lash · wax

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. bass — the fish
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mug — to rob
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. lie — to recline
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bass — low music
  15. wax — to grow
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. mug — a face
  19. toast — bread
  20. content — the amount
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. mug — a cup
  24. content — happy

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