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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 · track · foot · cell · file · bark · wax · lash

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. cell — a phone
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. bark — to shout
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. track — to keep track
  11. wax — to grow
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. track — a song
  14. file — a tool
  15. file — a line of people
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. foot — a measure
  18. track — a path
  19. cell — in biology
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. lash — to lash out

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