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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.

Make a worksheet

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: stand · calf · temple · tube · rash · wax · board · racket

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. wax — to grow
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. rash — hasty
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. stand — to bear
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. board — to get on
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. tube — a container
  16. rash — a series
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. board — a committee
  21. tube — the underground
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. stand — on your feet

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