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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.

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: safe · can · press · rash · last · row · wax · pitcher

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  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. row — a line
  2. press — a publisher
  3. press — newspapers
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. last — finally
  6. can — a tin
  7. rash — a series
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. last — to go on
  10. row — to paddle
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. press — to push
  17. wax — to grow
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. last — final
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. rash — hasty
  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