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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: can · stand · wave · firm · lash · safe · wake · foot

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. wake — a trail
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. firm — decided
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. can — to be able to
  11. can — a tin
  12. firm — steady
  13. stand — to bear
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. firm — a company
  23. can — a tin
  24. safe — out of danger

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