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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 · wax · hide · toast · wound · bound · mark · bear

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. mark — a grade
  4. wound — an injury
  5. wound — an injury
  6. toast — bread
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. mark — a trace
  10. bound — obliged
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. bound — tied together
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. bear — the animal
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. bound — certain
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. wax — to grow
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. bear — the animal
  24. temple — side of the head

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