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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: temple · net · wax · field · craft · board · can · bay

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. wax — to grow
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. can — a tin
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. field — farmland
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. field — for sport
  11. net — for catching
  12. board — a committee
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. field — a subject
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. board — to get on
  18. craft — a skill
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. craft — boats
  23. can — a tin
  24. net — after costs

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