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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.

Make a worksheet

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: safe · file · pop · fine · wax · mouse · pound · mine

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. file — a tool
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. fine — all right
  9. pop — to visit
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. file — a document
  12. mine — for digging
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wax — to grow
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. pound — a weight
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pop — soda
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. fine — high quality
  22. file — a line of people
  23. pop — music
  24. fine — a penalty

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