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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: tube · season · cap · board · can · staff · safe · wax

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. season — in sport
  4. can — a tin
  5. cap — of ice
  6. cap — a lid
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. can — a tin
  9. board — to get on
  10. wax — to grow
  11. tube — the underground
  12. season — of the year
  13. can — to be able to
  14. tube — a container
  15. board — a committee
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. cap — a hat
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. staff — employees
  23. staff — a stick
  24. board — a flat piece

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