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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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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: lie · row · scale · wax · fine · pitcher · bank · safe

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. bank — for money
  3. fine — all right
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. lie — to recline
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. fine — high quality
  9. wax — to grow
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. bank — of a river
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. scale — size or range
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. bank — for money
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. row — a line
  24. scale — in music

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