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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: cabinet · mug · wax · roll · ball · lash · pitcher · safe

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. mug — a face
  5. ball — a great time
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. roll — a list
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. ball — a dance
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. mug — to rob
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. wax — to grow
  22. mug — a cup
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. wax — for sculpting

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