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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: season · safe · ground · date · bay · craft · mouse · wax

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. wax — to grow
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. date — the fruit
  9. season — in sport
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. season — of the year
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. ground — crushed
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. craft — boats
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. ground — a position
  22. craft — a skill
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. mouse — for a computer

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