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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: saw · temple · stock · rush · cue · roll · vault · wax

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  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. stock — a soup base
  2. stock — goods
  3. saw — the tool
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. cue — a signal
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. vault — a safe
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. saw — the tool
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. roll — a list
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. stock — shares
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. rush — hurry
  19. cue — for pool
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. wax — to grow
  23. roll — a cake
  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