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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: snap · temple · foot · ball · wax · rock · wake · chair

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. foot — a measure
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. ball — a dance
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. ball — a great time
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. snap — to click
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. wax — to grow
  11. rock — music
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. rock — a stone
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. chair — a leader
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. temple — side of the head

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