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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.

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: lie · pitcher · safe · wax · bass · straw · rush · charge

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bass — the fish
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. lie — to recline
  9. charge — in control
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. rush — hurry
  15. charge — electricity
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. charge — a price
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. wax — to grow
  22. bass — low music
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. wax — for sculpting

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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