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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: safe · mouse · bear · bass · spring · patient · track · wax

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  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. spring — a coil
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. track — to keep track
  4. bass — the fish
  5. spring — the season
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. bass — low music
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. track — a song
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. spring — of water
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bear — the animal
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. wax — to grow
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. track — a path
  24. wax — for sculpting

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