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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.

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: wax · cue · leaves · arm · safe · rock · hide · board

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. cue — for pool
  3. wax — to grow
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. rock — a stone
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. cue — a hint
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. board — a committee
  15. board — to get on
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rock — music
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. cue — a signal
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. leaves — lets stay

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