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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mug · content · wind · wave · safe · lean · racket · wax

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. wax — to grow
  4. lean — thin
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. content — happy
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wind — moving air
  9. wind — moving air
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. content — the amount
  12. mug — a face
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. lean — to bend
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. mug — to rob
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. mug — a cup
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. lean — to rest against

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