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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: safe · ruler · vault · fall · club · fan · fine · wax

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. wax — to grow
  3. club — a group
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. fall — the season
  6. club — for dancing
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. vault — a safe
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fine — high quality
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. fall — to drop
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. fine — all right
  20. fall — to drop
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. club — for golf
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. safe — a strongbox

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