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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: leaves · last · coach · wake · rock · stick · wax · safe

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. rock — a stone
  8. wake — a trail
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. last — to go on
  11. last — finally
  12. wax — to grow
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. last — final
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. rock — music

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