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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: pass · trunk · stock · wax · fan · safe · roll · pit

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  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. roll — a cake
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. stock — goods
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. pit — a hole
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. wax — to grow
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pit — in a race
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. stock — shares
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. roll — a list
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. fan — a supporter
  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