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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 · lash · drill · perch · safe · current · track · fan

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. drill — the tool
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. current — electric
  9. current — of water
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. drill — army training
  12. track — a song
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. current — happening now
  15. perch — the fish
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. track — to keep track
  18. track — a path
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. drill — a practice
  23. wax — to grow
  24. fan — to cool the air

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