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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. track — a path
  3. bass — low music
  4. rock — a stone
  5. saw — the tool
  6. track — to keep track
  7. wax — to grow
  8. rock — music
  9. track — a song
  10. saw — the tool
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. board — to get on
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bass — the fish
  20. board — a committee
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. hide — to keep secret

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