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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.

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: wax · wave · stick · safe · spell · content · bark · rock

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. rock — music
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bark — to shout
  6. spell — a short time
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. rock — a stone
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. wax — to grow
  15. spell — letters
  16. content — the amount
  17. spell — magic
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. content — happy
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wax — in the ear

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