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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: lie · safe · dip · rush · wax · court · pitch · plane

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. The ball is in your ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. court — for sport
  3. pitch — completely
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. court — of law
  6. plane — a tool
  7. wax — to grow
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. dip — to sink
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. rush — hurry
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. court — of a king
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. lie — to recline

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