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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: spring · temple · net · charge · rock · wax · patient · foot

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. charge — in control
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. net — in sport
  6. spring — of water
  7. net — for catching
  8. wax — to grow
  9. charge — electricity
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. net — after costs
  12. rock — a stone
  13. charge — a price
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. rock — music
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. spring — a coil
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. spring — the season
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. foot — a measure
  24. temple — a place of worship

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