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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: lean · temple · saw · can · season · mouse · dip · wax

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. wax — to grow
  4. can — to be able to
  5. can — a tin
  6. lean — to bend
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. saw — the tool
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. saw — the tool
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. lean — thin
  17. season — in sport
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. dip — to sink
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. can — a tin
  22. season — of the year
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. wax — for sculpting

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