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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 120 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: wax · rush · cabinet · hide · mark · ruler · track · safe

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. track — to keep track
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. track — a path
  22. rush — hurry
  23. mark — a grade
  24. track — a song

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