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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: cue · wax · net · temple · safe · roll · squash · mate

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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. net — after costs
  4. cue — for pool
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. squash — to crush
  7. net — in sport
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. net — for catching
  10. wax — to grow
  11. mate — a friend
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. mate — a partner
  15. roll — a list
  16. mate — to breed
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. cue — a hint
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. roll — a cake
  22. squash — the sport
  23. cue — a signal
  24. safe — out of danger

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