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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: straw · safe · face · pass · net · hand · wax · rash

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. face — to confront
  4. hand — in cards
  5. wax — to grow
  6. net — for catching
  7. rash — a series
  8. face — part of the head
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. net — in sport
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. net — after costs
  18. hand — help
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pass — a permit
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. face — to point toward
  24. rash — hasty

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