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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: wax · suit · present · toast · wake · temple · bass · can

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. present — the time now
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. can — a tin
  5. wake — a trail
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. wax — to grow
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. present — a gift
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. suit — to fit
  13. bass — low music
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bass — the fish
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. suit — in cards
  19. suit — clothes
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. present — there
  22. can — a tin
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. can — to be able to

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