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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.

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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: rock · wax · drill · temple · race · plane · current · safe

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. current — of water
  4. drill — a practice
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. current — electric
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. wax — to grow
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. race — a contest
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. current — happening now
  16. drill — the tool
  17. race — the arms race
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. drill — army training
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. race — humankind
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. plane — a tool
  24. rock — music

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