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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 · bear · plane · swing · safe · track · field · mouse

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. plane — a tool
  4. field — for sport
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. field — farmland
  8. track — a song
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. field — a subject
  11. swing — to play on
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. wax — to grow
  15. swing — music
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. track — to keep track
  19. swing — in golf
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. track — a path
  23. bear — the animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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