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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.

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: key · spell · stand · wax · temple · bark · patient · wake

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. wax — to grow
  3. spell — magic
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. spell — a short time
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. spell — letters
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. wake — a trail
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. key — the most important part
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. key — in music
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. key — for a lock
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bark — to shout
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. stand — to bear
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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