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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: rock · suit · hand · wax · roll · safe · stick · bay

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. roll — a list
  3. suit — in cards
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. rock — a stone
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. wax — to grow
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. suit — to fit
  14. hand — help
  15. hand — in cards
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. roll — a cake
  21. suit — clothes
  22. rock — music
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. safe — out of danger

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