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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: hand · date · wax · drill · bank · safe · spell · bear

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. bear — the animal
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. drill — the tool
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. bank — for money
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. date — the fruit
  11. spell — a short time
  12. wax — to grow
  13. bank — for money
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. spell — magic
  16. drill — a practice
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. spell — letters
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bank — of a river
  22. hand — help
  23. hand — in cards
  24. hand — part of the body

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