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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 · bass · wax · net · mouse · bulb · can · safe

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. net — for catching
  6. bass — the fish
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. net — in sport
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. can — a tin
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bulb — for light
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. bass — low music
  22. wax — to grow
  23. can — a tin
  24. net — after costs

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