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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: wax · safe · craft · leaves · pitcher · bound · bank · mouse

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. craft — a skill
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bound — certain
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. craft — boats
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. bound — obliged
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. wax — to grow
  16. bank — for money
  17. bound — tied together
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bank — of a river
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. bank — for money

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