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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · spell · safe · club · wax · fork · cap · cue

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. cue — a signal
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. can — to be able to
  8. cap — of ice
  9. club — for dancing
  10. cap — a hat
  11. can — a tin
  12. club — for golf
  13. cue — a hint
  14. wax — to grow
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. can — a tin
  19. spell — a short time
  20. fork — in a road
  21. club — a group
  22. spell — magic
  23. cue — for pool
  24. cap — a lid

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