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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: rash · scale · temple · lie · band · dip · wax · charge

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. charge — a price
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. wax — to grow
  6. scale — in music
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. dip — to sink
  10. lie — to recline
  11. charge — electricity
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. rash — a series
  14. scale — size or range
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. band — a ring
  20. rash — hasty
  21. charge — in control
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. band — a music group

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