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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: wake · sharp · wax · safe · row · fan · stand · coach

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. wake — a trail
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. wax — to grow
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. row — a line
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. sharp — clever
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. stand — to bear

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