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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: vault · degree · wax · fine · safe · face · hide · coach

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. face — to point toward
  4. wax — to grow
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. face — part of the head
  7. vault — a safe
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. degree — temperature
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. face — to confront
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. degree — an amount
  17. fine — high quality
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. fine — all right
  21. degree — from a university
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. safe — out of danger

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