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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 120 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
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: wax · perch · bass · ruler · bore · stock · tube · temple

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. tube — the underground
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. bass — low music
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. bore — to tire
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. stock — goods
  12. bass — the fish
  13. perch — the fish
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. tube — a container
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bore — to drill
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. wax — to grow
  24. stock — shares

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