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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
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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: cabinet · saw · wax · hand · safe · net · lie · bowl

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. net — for catching
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — the tool
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. lie — to recline
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. net — after costs
  15. net — in sport
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. hand — help
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. wax — to grow
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. hand — in cards

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