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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: mouse · safe · fine · file · cell · toast · leaves · wax

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. wax — to grow
  4. toast — bread
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. file — a document
  11. cell — a phone
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. cell — in biology
  15. fine — all right
  16. file — a tool
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. file — a line of people
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. leaves — to go away

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