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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: wax · net · bank · content · chair · fan · fine · safe

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. content — happy
  5. net — in sport
  6. fine — high quality
  7. wax — to grow
  8. fine — all right
  9. bank — of a river
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. chair — to sit on
  14. bank — for money
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. content — the amount
  19. net — for catching
  20. chair — a leader
  21. net — after costs
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. chair — a professorship

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