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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.

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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: key · suit · ground · wax · spell · safe · current · mug

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. suit — clothes
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. current — electric
  5. suit — to fit
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. ground — crushed
  8. mug — a cup
  9. wax — to grow
  10. spell — a short time
  11. current — of water
  12. ground — a position
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. key — for a lock
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. suit — in cards
  17. ground — the earth
  18. spell — letters
  19. key — in music
  20. spell — magic
  21. current — happening now
  22. mug — a face
  23. key — the most important part
  24. mug — to rob

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