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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: temple · safe · file · roll · mate · wax · pass · trunk

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  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. file — a document
  2. mate — a friend
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. file — a line of people
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. roll — a list
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. wax — to grow
  13. mate — to breed
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. file — a tool
  17. mate — a partner
  18. pass — a permit
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. roll — a cake
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. wax — for sculpting
  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