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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: field · rule · fan · trunk · mug · mark · wax · safe

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mark — a grade
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. mug — a face
  7. field — farmland
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. wax — to grow
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. mug — to rob
  16. rule — government
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. field — for sport
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. rule — a law
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. mug — a cup
  24. field — a subject

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