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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: wax · bound · wind · foot · temple · perch · cabinet · rush

  1. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. wax — to grow
  3. bound — certain
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. rush — hurry
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. perch — the fish
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bound — obliged
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. wind — moving air
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. foot — a measure
  24. bound — tied together

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