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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · dip · board · rest · foot · wax · roll · bulb

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bulb — for light
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. roll — a cake
  6. board — to get on
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. board — a committee
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bulb — for light
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. foot — a measure
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. rest — a break
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. rest — what's left
  19. dip — to sink
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. wax — to grow
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. roll — a list

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