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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 120 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.

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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: coach · root · safe · wax · march · mug · nail · firm

  1. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. firm — a company
  3. wax — to grow
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. mug — a cup
  7. root — of a plant
  8. mug — a face
  9. march — the month
  10. root — of a word
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. root — the cause
  14. march — music
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. mug — to rob
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. firm — steady
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. firm — decided

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