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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.

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 · root · foot · season · wax · lie · bass · fan

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. root — of a plant
  5. season — of the year
  6. wax — to grow
  7. foot — a measure
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. season — in sport
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — to recline
  16. bass — low music
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bass — the fish
  19. root — the cause
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. root — of a word
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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