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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
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: bass · lean · temple · rest · wave · fan · date · foot

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. rest — a break
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. rest — what's left
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. lean — to bend
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. date — the fruit
  11. bass — low music
  12. rest — what's left
  13. lean — thin
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. foot — a measure
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. bass — the fish
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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