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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.

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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 · kid · court · nail · face · wax · can · tube

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. tube — a container
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. can — to be able to
  9. wax — to grow
  10. tube — the underground
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. face — to point toward
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. kid — to tease
  16. court — of a king
  17. kid — child
  18. can — a tin
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. court — of law
  22. can — a tin
  23. court — for sport
  24. face — to confront

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