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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: can · sharp · rest · season · pitcher · wax · pop · safe

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. pop — to visit
  3. rest — what's left
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. rest — a break
  7. pop — soda
  8. season — of the year
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. season — in sport
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — a tin
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. can — to be able to
  18. pop — music
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. rest — what's left
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. wax — to grow
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. sharp — clever

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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