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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: temple · saw · can · kid · wax · safe · stand · key

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. can — to be able to
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. key — in music
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. key — the most important part
  14. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  15. saw — the tool
  16. kid — child
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. key — for a lock
  19. wax — to grow
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. stand — to bear
  22. saw — the tool
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. kid — to tease

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