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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 116 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: fan · ground · wave · coach · bore · safe · bass · wax

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. ground — the earth
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. bore — to drill
  8. wax — to grow
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bore — to tire
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. ground — crushed
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. ground — a position
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. bass — the fish

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