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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: wax · safe · current · roll · bound · plane · cabinet · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. roll — a cake
  3. fine — all right
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. current — electric
  8. current — happening now
  9. current — of water
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. fine — high quality
  13. plane — a tool
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. wax — to grow
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bound — obliged
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bound — certain
  24. roll — a list

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