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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
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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: drill · cap · wax · safe · fall · cue · trunk · fan

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. wax — to grow
  4. fall — the season
  5. cue — a signal
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. fall — to drop
  8. drill — the tool
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. cap — a hat
  12. drill — army training
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. drill — a practice
  16. cue — for pool
  17. cap — of ice
  18. fall — to drop
  19. cue — a hint
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. cap — a lid
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. fan — a supporter

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