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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.

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: coach · safe · wax · leaves · bank · drill · face · file

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. face — to confront
  9. file — a line of people
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. drill — the tool
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — for money
  15. file — a document
  16. face — part of the head
  17. wax — to grow
  18. drill — a practice
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. bank — of a river
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. face — to point toward
  24. file — a tool

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