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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: wax · snap · rash · dip · mug · safe · prune · firm

  1. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. mug — a face
  3. firm — steady
  4. rash — a series
  5. snap — to click
  6. dip — to sink
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mug — a cup
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. mug — to rob
  14. prune — to trim
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. wax — to grow
  19. rash — hasty
  20. firm — a company
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. firm — decided

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