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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. mug — a face
  3. bank — for money
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lie — to recline
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. swing — to play on
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. bank — for money
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. mug — to rob
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. swing — in golf
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bank — of a river
  20. mug — a cup
  21. wax — to grow
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. safe — out of danger

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