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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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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: arm · ground · ruler · craft · safe · snap · wax · rock

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. ground — the earth
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. rock — a stone
  6. craft — boats
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. craft — a skill
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. ground — a position
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. ground — crushed
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. snap — to click
  21. wax — to grow
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. ruler — for measuring

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