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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
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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: spring · wax · safe · spell · rash · lash · charge · temple

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. charge — electricity
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. spring — the season
  9. spring — a coil
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. spring — of water
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. charge — a price
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. spell — magic
  17. spell — letters
  18. wax — to grow
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. rash — hasty
  21. spell — a short time
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. charge — in control
  24. safe — a strongbox

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