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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: rest · wax · temple · craft · present · march · arm · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rock — music
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. march — music
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. craft — a skill
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. present — there
  10. present — the time now
  11. craft — boats
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. march — the month
  14. march — the month
  15. rest — what's left
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rest — a break
  18. wax — to grow
  19. present — a gift
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. rest — what's left
  24. temple — a place of worship

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