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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.

Make a worksheet

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: march · coach · safe · wound · arm · board · wax · suit

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. wax — to grow
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. march — the month
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. wound — an injury
  12. board — a committee
  13. march — the month
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. march — music
  16. suit — clothes
  17. board — to get on
  18. suit — to fit
  19. wound — an injury
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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