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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. wake — a trail
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. wax — to grow
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. roll — a list
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. plane — a tool
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. saw — the tool
  13. roll — a cake
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. saw — the tool
  24. mouse — the animal

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