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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.

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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: can · wax · net · safe · spell · suit · spring · cell

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. spell — a short time
  3. suit — to fit
  4. wax — to grow
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. can — a tin
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. cell — in biology
  11. suit — clothes
  12. cell — a phone
  13. spell — letters
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. net — for catching
  16. net — after costs
  17. spell — magic
  18. spring — of water
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. spring — the season
  21. suit — in cards
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. spring — a coil
  24. wax — for sculpting

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