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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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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: wax · safe · fine · tube · cue · file

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. fine — high quality
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. cue — a hint
  6. fine — all right
  7. cue — a signal
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. wax — to grow
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. file — a line of people
  15. cue — for pool
  16. tube — the underground
  17. file — a document
  18. tube — a container

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