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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: can · temple · hide · wax · fall · scale · wound · cap

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. cap — of ice
  3. fall — the season
  4. wax — to grow
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. scale — size or range
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. wound — an injury
  9. can — to be able to
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. fall — to drop
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. wound — an injury
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. fall — to drop
  17. cap — a lid
  18. cap — a hat
  19. can — a tin
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. can — a tin
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. hide — animal skin

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