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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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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: safe · foot · wax · bulb · roll · pound · cabinet · arm

  1. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pound — to hit hard
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bulb — for light
  7. roll — a cake
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. bulb — for light
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. roll — a list
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. foot — a measure
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. pound — a weight
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wax — to grow
  24. cabinet — ministers

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