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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: wax · safe · bulb · deal · arm · net · trunk · saw

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  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. deal — to handle
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — for light
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. net — for catching
  11. net — in sport
  12. net — after costs
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. wax — to grow
  17. saw — the tool
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. saw — the tool
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bulb — of a plant
  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