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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 · wax · safe · sharp · present · foot · perch · coach

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. present — a gift
  5. foot — a measure
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. can — a tin
  9. present — the time now
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. can — a tin
  12. wax — to grow
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. can — to be able to
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. present — there
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. perch — the fish
  22. sharp — clever
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. coach — a trainer

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