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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: ruler · temple · wax · sharp · cue · pit · hide · racket

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  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. wax — for sculpting
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. cue — a hint
  4. pit — in a race
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. cue — a signal
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. wax — to grow
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. sharp — clever
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. pit — a hole
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. cue — for pool
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  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