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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
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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: sharp · lie · wax · current · hand · mug · scale · safe

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. hand — in cards
  3. lie — to recline
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. wax — to grow
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. current — happening now
  10. current — of water
  11. scale — size or range
  12. mug — a face
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. sharp — clever
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. mug — a cup
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. mug — to rob
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. scale — in music
  23. hand — help
  24. sharp — with an edge

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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