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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 120 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: bound · temple · wax · can · shower · cue · present · squash

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. cue — a hint
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. present — the time now
  5. bound — tied together
  6. shower — to wash
  7. bound — obliged
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. can — a tin
  11. squash — the sport
  12. can — a tin
  13. cue — for pool
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. bound — certain
  16. shower — rain
  17. cue — a signal
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. can — to be able to
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. squash — to crush
  22. present — a gift
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wax — in the ear

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