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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: rock · sharp · trunk · bore · temple · foot · wave · object

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. rock — a stone
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. rock — music
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bore — to tire
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. foot — a measure
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. object — an aim
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. sharp — clever
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. object — to protest
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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