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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 116 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 · bound · fine · drill · staff · wax · key · craft

  1. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. drill — a practice
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. fine — all right
  5. drill — army training
  6. key — for a lock
  7. staff — a stick
  8. drill — the tool
  9. craft — a skill
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. bound — certain
  12. staff — employees
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. staff — employees
  15. key — the most important part
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wax — to grow
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. key — in music
  20. bound — tied together
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bound — obliged
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fine — high quality

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