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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: stock · ground · arm · wax · stand · wake · temple · wave

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. stock — shares
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. stock — goods
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. ground — crushed
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. wake — a trail
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. stand — to bear
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. ground — a position
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. wax — to grow
  20. ground — the earth
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. arm — a part of something

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