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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: ruler · wax · safe · root · rock · net · ground · club

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. club — a group
  4. root — the cause
  5. root — of a plant
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. net — in sport
  8. net — for catching
  9. club — for golf
  10. net — after costs
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. root — of a word
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. rock — a stone
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. ground — crushed
  17. rock — music
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. ground — a position
  20. club — for dancing
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ground — the earth
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. wax — to grow

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