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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
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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 · cue · bear · safe · wax · coach · mate · tube

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. mate — a partner
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. bear — the animal
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. cue — a signal
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. tube — a container
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. mate — a friend
  15. cue — for pool
  16. wax — to grow
  17. mate — to breed
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. bear — the animal
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. cue — a hint

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