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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 116 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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. bat — the animal
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. lean — thin
  14. rock — music
  15. bat — in an idiom
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. lean — to bend
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. deal — to handle
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. rock — a stone
  24. wax — to grow

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