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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: cold · ground · snap · lie · wax · safe · mouse · cabinet

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The water is too ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. ground — the earth
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. cold — an illness
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. wax — to grow
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. cold — not warm
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. ground — a position
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. cold — the Cold War
  22. ground — crushed
  23. snap — to click
  24. lie — an untruth

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